Picture this: You’ve just come back from a work trip or vacation, spending the past week in a different bed, going to sleep at various times, and waking up super early. You’re a bit jet-lagged and haven’t worked out for a week. The pending to-do list seems to be growing.

Have you ever dreaded going on a work trip or even a vacation because you know your routine and habits you’ve spent so long building are sure to go out the window?

I travel bi-weekly for my job and make frequent trips back to my home state. Although a little rocky at first, I think I’ve nailed down the best strategies to make sure your habits and routines don’t go to waste when you travel. 

4 Ways to Keep Your Habits & Routines While Traveling

#1- Normal Routine vs Travel Routine 

If you have the fortune to be able to travel, you’ll need to establish a travel routine that is likely different from your normal routine but still contains the same components. 

Pick out 1-3 habits that you want to make sure are still part of your travel routine. For me, those are working out and writing.

All the systems I have in place allow me to prioritize working out and writing even when I’m traveling. 

A key part of establishing a traveling ‘routine’ is being flexible and planning on a day-to-day basis. 

One day you may work out at 3 pm before a work-related dinner, the next you may have to work out at 6 am because your day is too busy otherwise. Or you may choose to work out every morning while you’re on vacation so you can get it out of the way early. 

Setting up and sticking to a travel routine that allows you to prioritize 1-3 habits you have is what guarantees success while you travel. 

#2- Systems for Success 

Traveling can be stressful. From the unknowns surrounding transportation to the frustration when you forget underwear, there are many things that can throw us off our mojo. 

Setting up systems allows you to experience not only success in traveling but success in maintaining your routines and habits. 

Some systems I have include packing the same clothes for traveling, in terms of workout clothes, casual clothes, and pajamas. I know that every time I travel, I wear my maroon United States Marine Corps sweatshirt, black leggings, and white Nike Air Force Max.

I have bought a separate set of toiletries, so I own two of everything. This ensures that I’m less likely to forget essential healthcare items. 

Even if I’m traveling alone, I get two queen beds. I always set my suitcase on one of the beds, taking out my workout clothes and my outfit for the next day. 

All of these systems allow for the unknowns of traveling to become known. When little things like this are in place, you’re offered more time and brain space to think about and do the things you actually want to, like working out or writing. 

Get rid of the clutter. Put systems in place. Experience success. 

#3- Mindset is Key

Mindset is the biggest thing that can prevent you from maintaining your habits and routine when you travel. 

If you go into a week of travel thinking you’re not going to be able to get anything accomplished then guess what…you probably won’t.

Although travel days are not like normal days, you should have the mindset that you are still able to get things done despite the fact that you’re not in your normal environment doing your normal thing. 

Then, as you progressively prove to yourself that you’re able to keep up your workout routine while your travel, then it’ll be like second nature to you. 

#4- Utilize Downtime

Traveling is probably the most downtime we experience in today’s fast-paced world. 

Between wifi-less flights and waiting for a plane to board to Uber rides and nights spent sans husband and kids in the hotel room, you may actually have more downtime than normal.

It’s important to utilize downtime to its maximum potential if you want to be able to maintain routines and habits efficiently while traveling. Or else you’ll find that after six hours of flights, all you’ve done is watch three Adam Sandler movies. 

There’s nothing wrong with using a plane fight to detach and relax a bit. But it really is a great time to get some uninterrupted work done since there are such limited things that can be done on a plane or while sitting in your hotel room. 

Planning what tasks can be done without wifi versus the tasks that you need to do while waiting in the airport is important too. For example, if I need to schedule a doctor's appointment and finish editing a blog post, I’ll schedule the doctor's appointment while I sit at the airport and edit while I’m on the plane. 

Real Talk

It’s incredibly easy to sacrifice your normal routine and habits when you’re traveling.

The ability to come up with excuses is tenfold what it normally is. 

Just know that traveling doesn’t have to feel like a complete waste of time. There are opportunities to accomplish tasks and maintain your habits. 

Don’t let traveling be the enemy of your habits and routines. 

Setting yourself up for success in traveling allows you to continue your normal groove when you get home, as opposed to trying to clean up the mess of neglect.