Most people don't realize they're sacrificing their faith practice, fitness progress, and financial discipline every time they pack a suitcase - I learned this the hard way.
The worst part is that I was doing everything else right.
Checking flight prices.
Booking the perfect hotel.
Planning my itinerary down to the minute.
But with each perfectly planned trip, my most important goals silently slipped away.
The real goal-killer isn't jet lag, busy schedules, or limited options. It's the pause button mentality - the subtle belief that it's not just our location that's changing, but our standards. This invisible mindset is why even committed individuals watch their morning devotionals vanish, their workout streaks end, and their spending limits crumble each time they travel.
As a result of having to get back on track each time I return from a trip, I’ve developed a counterintuitive approach that strengthens my faith, fitness, and finances while traveling.
Bookmark this post if you keep losing precious ground each time you return from a trip.
Faith Goals While Traveling
Find a Space: Find a corner in your hotel room or guest room that you can use for prayer or reflection.
Set a Morning or Evening Routine: This could be as soon as you wake up before you launch into your day or just before you sleep at night when you have some alone time. Determine ahead what you are going to read or listen to.
Here are two devotionals I listen to on my tablet anytime I go on short trips. They don’t require a lot of space or time.
They are short and packed with insights and practical applications for living out your faith. There are a lot of useful journaling apps, Bible apps, and guided prayer apps that allow you to connect with your faith on the go.
Share your Faith: Traveling can give you many opportunities to meet new people, speak to them about your beliefs, and pray for or with them. This is a great time to be mindful of how you portray yourself to others while far away from home, where no one knows you.
Books, Movies, Sermons, and Songs: If you find that you can’t stay on top of prayer and Bible time, a great way to continue to keep your mind on God is to read Christian fiction or watch a Christian movie.
Alternatively, you could create and listen to a song or message playlist on any theme area you are focused on in a season of your life. Let’s say you’ve been dealing with fear or anxiety.
How about creating a playlist of songs or messages that address fear to help you focus on faith?
Guess which movie and book I’m taking on my next trip?
The Forge!
Christian books and movies can help keep you centered on God and your faith while away from your everyday routines. They are also fun and relaxing and very suitable for vacations and trips.
Now let’s take a look at how you can stay on top of your health goals while on the move.
Fitness Goals While Traveling
Exercise: When possible, book your stay at a place with a gym or some workout classes that you can participate in. If you don't have access to a gym, you can stay active with bodyweight exercises. You could download an app on your phone with bodyweight exercises and join a challenge for some duration of your trip.
A pro tip is to keep it short, about 10 minutes or less, so you won’t dread doing it. If you know you only have to work out for 5 minutes; you are more likely to get started than if you set a goal of 60 minutes. You might even find yourself working out longer than you expected.
Just set a goal so small that you can’t fail. You could also use your trip to stay on track to your goal. Explore your surroundings, and walk instead of driving when possible.
Eat Mindfully: If you plan to eat out a lot on your trip, eating a salad before your main meal is one way to stay healthy. It might help you skip dessert.
Ensure that the meals you choose are a mix of proteins and fiber.
Pack some snacks like nuts and protein bars to help you reduce your intake of unhealthy options.
Pro tip. Water is your friend.
Sleep and Recovery: Prioritize your rest. Do your best to sleep and wake within an hour of your usual sleep routine. Take an eye mask and earplugs to help you adjust to new time zones or unfamiliar places. Here’s how you can maintain your wealth goals while traveling.
Here's how you can maintain your wealth goals while traveling.
Finance Goals While Traveling
Use the Fixed/Flexible Framework: Some expenses, such as hotels and flights, might be fixed. Book them in advance. What's left determines your flexible expenses, which include daily spending on:
Food and Drinks
Transportation
Activities/Entertainment
Shopping/Souvenirs
Budget in Advance: Pre-allocate your daily spending limit for flexible categories before the trip. Track spending in each category and stop spending when you hit its cap!
Each morning, "reset" your daily budget. If you underspend, you could roll it over or save it. If you overspent, take it out of the next day's budget. Recording your expenses daily while traveling will help you stay accountable.
Pro Tip: Transfer your total travel budget before leaving
Follow the Rule of Three: The rule of three allows one splurge meal, one moderate meal, and one budget meal each day. It also makes allowance for one paid activity, one moderate activity, and one free activity daily.
This rule should help you stick to your budget, be more deliberate about your choices, and ensure you still have fun while away.
Weekly Key Takeaway: When we treat travel as an opportunity rather than an obstacle, we learn to embrace the disruption of travel as a chance to strengthen our practices in new and refreshing ways.
Reflection Question:How do you stay connected to your goals when you're on the road?
Try at least one of these approaches on your next trip. Your goals don't need to take a vacation just because you do.
Look out for my next post on, Overcoming Life Disappointment: How to Love the Life You Have.
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