How to Keep Up With Your New Year’s Resolutions While Traveling
Photo courtesy of Paula May via Unsplash
Still traveling but don’t want to get behind on your New Year’s resolutions (that is, if traveling more isn’t part of your resolutions this year) ?
The most common New Year’s resolutions are to get fit, budget more effectively, and eat healthy, according to a 2018 poll. Read on to find out how to keep up with these goals while on the road.
Plan Ahead Whenever Possible
The easiest way to fail at resolutions related to both health and budgeting is when you don’t plan ahead and have to eat something quick (and possibly more expensive!), for example.
If you know you’re going to be, say, camping early on this year the best shot for sticking with your goals is to plan ahead of time. Take a look at our healthy and easy to prepare camping recipes, and buy the needed ingredients early on enough that you can find them on sale.
Choose where to eat out wisely
With Yelp and Google, there’s no reason you can’t know ahead of time whether or not a potential restaurant is a suitable option for you or your family.
Even if you’re traveling, you can look up the menu ahead of time for the healthiest (and most budget-friendly) options you can find.
Take Advantage of Technology 
Nowadays there is truly an app for everything. Take advantage of this fact, and use helpful apps to keep track of your various goals. For example, You Need a Budget (YNAB) is a highly-rated budgeting app that helps you keep track of your spending and saving goals.
You don’t need an expensive smart watch or gym membership to keep track of your fitness, and most apps are easy to use regardless of location (which you can’t say for that gym!). For example, check out C25K, a free app which helps you work toward running a 5K by only alternating walking and jogging about 30 minutes a day, working up toward running a full 5K.
And of course, there are plenty of apps dedicated to tracking what you eat, from the classic Weight Watchers, which uses a point system, to the popular LoseIt app.
Make a budget (and stick to it)
Your budget shouldn’t be disregarded just because you’re traveling— after all, your financial obligations don’t disappear just because you’re on vacation, right?
While it’s important to have fun on your trip, there are plenty of budget friendly options for everything from outfitting your canvas tent to entertainment for the family. It just takes getting creative! Plus, many outdoors activities that will keep you active (which might be another goal for the new year) come at the low price of free, such as hiking or swimming.
Track your goals as often and consistently as possible
Regardless of what your goal is, the best way to keep yourself accountable is to make SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.
Keep track of exactly what your goal is, following this acronym. For example, instead of just saying “I want to lose weight,” a SMART goal would be something like “I want to lose 20 pounds, and I will reach this goal by June by making sure I cut out sugary drinks and exercising three times a week. I will track this goal in my journal by making a weekly checklist of my exercise and tracking my diet, and I will aim to lose a half pound every week.”
It’s much easier to keep yourself accountable if you have clearly defined goals to follow, whether you’re at home or 1,000 miles from home!
