Why would you go to the gym? You’re on vacation!
Recently someone I met on my digital nomad journey asked me why would you go to the gym? You’re on vacation. I think this “vacation” concept is the biggest misconception with being a digital nomad. In the past, the place you are in was only possible to see on a vacation. But with this new way of living, ‘yes living’, we now can live in these past vacation places. Believe me, I definitely fell under this trap early on in my nomad life. I constantly felt like I needed to be seeing new things or having “fun”.
This way of life is just not sustainable when you’re working on your career and improving yourself. It definitely took me some time to get used to but once I was able to jump over this mental hurdle, my nomad life drastically improved. Yes, I am living in a ‘vacation spot’ in your eyes but I am living my life, and with that comes all the things I did when living full-time in a US city. Don’t worry, my response to this person was not this long-winded.
I highly recommend anyone that is a digital nomad or is thinking about becoming nomadic to look at each day and week like this. Focus on the things you love to do and want to do to become the person you want to be. For me, that is learning, cooking, being healthy and active.
[Insert push-up break here]
The best part of being a nomad for me is seeing what my life would be like if I truly lived in this location full-time. I think it’s a very humbling thing to do and can really give you many lessons about yourself and the world. After all, we are all in this together.
I started this article out with the gym, so let’s switch to some tips I have learned on how to keep a fitness routine while being a nomad.
Research gyms before going
The week before I am scheduled to arrive at my new destination, I use Google maps to look around the neighborhood I will be staying in and find a handful of gyms I like. The first couple of days I am there, I will walk to the gyms and check them out to see if they are a good fit.
A lot of gyms offer free trials that I highly recommend taking advantage of. The free trials may not be published at the location or on the gym’s website, but you should always ask! I have had gym owners offer me a session for free as an informal offer so I can experience their facilities.
Also, it is important to get started on your gym hunt early since most gym memberships run on a specific billing cycle (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly). That is why right after I have my housing and work locations settled I start on the gym hunt. Of course, this all depends on how long you generally stay in one location. I generally stay in one place for 1-2 months so I need to get started early in order to ensure I have the ability to use the gym for the full month or weeks worth of access I paid for.
Don’t be afraid of classes!
It definitely was very intimidating, doing my first workout class in a language I didn’t speak. Even if it’s only one time, I highly recommend it! It was so cool to see how helpful and nice people have been to try and make my experience as good as possible.
It is a great way to learn a little bit of the local language as well. One tip would be to learn a few very basic phrases in the native language. But not your typical, “hello” or “good-bye.” While those are good too. I would recommend learning left, right, breath, and how to count to at least 10. This is because these are common phrases that are used in classes. Also, if you have any injuries or anything the instructor should know either have it typed out on Google translate or learn how to communicate this to the instructor(s).
It is also a great way to meet like-minded people if you are traveling alone. Especially if you are not into the party or bar scene. In Italy, I took a yoga class and there was only one other person that attended. The teacher spoke barely any English but the other person did. It kinda turned into a solo class where the other person attending was just translating for me. It ended up being a great experience. We all had such a great time we met up for lunch afterward!
Find workout equipment that is easy to travel with
One of my favorite travel fitness hacks is jumping rope. I use the weighted ropes from the company Crossrope. Ropes are so easy to carry with you and you can always find space to jump. Not to mention that jumping rope is considered the best cardio workout you can do. Crossrope also has tons of jump-rope-inspired workout videos you can access from anywhere on your phone.
Resistance bands are also great. They are so small, lightweight, and super easy to find space for in your backpack or luggage.
For you travel yogis out there we also love this portable travel mat from Manduka. It is thin and can fold up really easily
And for those who do not have enough space to fit any workout equipment, get creative! We have used canned beans, milk cartons, and other household items for our workouts while on the road. One 15 oz. can of beans is equal to about 1 lb. If you get 4 of those (two in each hand) now you are working with 2 lb weights for a great high-rep/ low-weight workout.
Outdoor gyms
Another helpful tip is to always be on the lookout for outdoor gyms. I have been very surprised at how many outdoor gyms I’ve found during my travels. Some of them will show up on google maps but almost all of them are going to be in a park.
The best part about outdoor gyms is that they are free and kind to any budget-conscious digital nomads! Although we did come across a paid one on Athens!
YouTube workouts
Youtube has so many amazing people that produce new workouts daily. According to Google, 79% of YouTube sports viewers say YouTube has sports and fitness video content that they can’t find anywhere else. You can find ones with no equipment needed so you can do them in whatever place you are staying. One of my favorite at-home workout gurus is Caroline Girvan. Girvan is a personal trainer with over 1.3M subscribers who offers daily 1-hour workout videos. A lot of them are bodyweight only, which is great for us nomads!
There are several other great workout YouTubers like MadFit, Next, and Growingannanas.
Instagram is getting big into the home workout scene as well and there are some awesome creators on the platform using newer features like IGTV, Reels, and IG Live.
Just walk
No matter how many classes I have done, walking is still the creme de la creme of workouts for me. I could listen to my podcasts or audiobooks, walk for hours and explore.
Also, you are in a city or a new country that you have never seen before, and just going on a 30-minute stroll is an exhilarating experience. It is not like you are walking around the same park, in your same neighborhood that you have walked around for 15 years. Just walking takes on a whole new meaning for us digital nomads.
I hope you can use some of these tips to keep your fitness life going while being a nomad. And I hope you can remember that you are ‘living’ and not on vacation. Take a deep breath, slow down and enjoy the journey.
If you are just getting started on your digital nomad journey you should also check out ou Best Tips for working while traveling! We want you to succeed and these tips can help you learn how to make the digital nomad lifestyle sustainable!
Happy exploring!
