Sometimes there isn’t time, or money, for a full-on vacation. That doesn’t mean that you can’t escape from the routine for a bit. Getting away from it all for a day or two can be a good way to disconnect from the daily stresses, and to recharge your batteries before getting back in your routine. It’s also a good way to reconnect with your sweetheart when you both are in the middle of a million things. Ever feel like saying “Oh, hi! You still live here right?” Ok, I might be exaggerating a smidgen, not that much though!
As much as I love weekend getaways, they are quite a challenge to me. I often can manage a vacation pretty well, but those short escapes seem to be the starting point of several weeks of sliding away from my healthy habits. It starts with “aaaaw, I can do this tonight, we’re leaving tomorrow”, to “it’s our special weekend, it doesn’t count”, to finally “I’ll get back on track Monday, ok, next Monday, ok, next Monday”. Put all together, 2 days of escape turns into several weeks of struggling. Then I have to make up for it. It does not have to be!
Sometimes temptation is everywhere!
Over the years I have put together an action plan to deal with our little escapes. My challenge is balancing the fact that it’s only a day or two, and that I really want to enjoy myself; and the reality of not wanting to undo my efforts of the last several months for a weekend of splurges that turned into a month and a half of struggles.
Before you leave:
As with pretty much everything else, success lies in preparations. So lets start with what to do before going on a weekend get away. There are steps that you can take before you leave that will make your life much easier during your weekend, but more importantly when you come home.
De-clutter your home
Ok, if you are a neat freak, and your place is always spotless, that is not an issue. I live in a small apartment with 2 cats, a dog, and a husband, lets just say that I try to keep up, but not always successfully. It is tempting to say “Aaaww I’ll take care of this when I come back” but really it is not a good idea. Coming home all rested and relaxed to a messy place brings the stress level right back up. Walking in to the place looking great, and fresh makes me feel ready to take on anything.
Plan the week back
I like to have food and work outs planned out for the following week. Starting on the day I come home (or the following morning if I come home late). That way I don’t have to do too much thinking, I just grab the plan and go. Keep the plan simple and easy, at least for the first few days so that you can easily fall back in your routine and not look for excuses to put the plan aside
Shop for next week
Shop ahead for the following week. Get the foods that will keep without a problem like canned goods, bottled sauces, dried spices etc. Have it all in and ready to cook. If you need some goods that will not keep well over the weekend, make a clear detailed list (keep it short and sweet) and bring it with you on your trip. I put it in my wallet, or in a pocket of my bag.
Have the first day ready to go
I like to cook and freeze dinner for my first day back if I can. If not I make sure that it will be something super easy and quick to prepare. On the first day back, there’s often unpacking, laundry, getting the dog from the dog care, cat litter and pet bowls to wash etc. I don’t have time for an elaborate cooking session.
Make a realistic plan for your getaway
It’s a “Get Away”, chances are that there will be splurges involved, and that you will want to put your energy on having fun rather than working out. Still, you want to decide ahead of time how much you want to let yourself splurge, and if you plan on working out or not. It’s a good idea to look up food options where you are going. What is the food that should not be missed? What are things that maybe aren’t really splurge-worthy? Also, what are the work out opportunities? Is there a gym where you are going? Great running routes? New adventures opportunities? Always wanted to try surfing? Maybe paddling for a few hours will count as a work out.
Beach volley? Why not?
Pack smart
You want to give some serious thoughts about what you will bring along. It’s obvious that you’ll have to bring some work out gear if you plan on working out. You also want to decide what you bring for the rest of the time. Comfortable clothes and shoes can make exploring the areas you will be visiting much more fun. Exploring new areas is a good way to burn calories without missing on anything, quite the contrary! If going on a road trip, you might want to pack some snacks for the road. I’m a big fan of fruits like oranges, or apples because they keep me from getting thirsty, without having to run to the bathroom every 10 minutes. Really on a long drive, it makes a difference.
While you are out:
Ok, so you are ready, you have a plan, your week back is planned out, you even have cooked the first day’s dinner. Time to go! Now what? Here’s what:
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You want to keep your goals and how important they are to you in mind so that you don’t overindulge. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a splurge here and there, I think they are part of a healthy lifestyle, but there is a difference between indulging in that dessert or drink that you really love, and eating everything in sight before it’s a special occasion.
Follow your plan as possible
Use your plan as a guide and an anchor to keep you from straying too far. The idea is not to have it be a ball and chain at your ankle, but rather a way to not have to worry about it when you do splurge on something that is truly splurge-worthy. A plan keeps you from forgetting about your goals, and spontaneity makes the whole experience fun and relaxing.
Fries yes but skip that sauce!
Relax and have fun!
The whole idea is to disconnect from your daily life and have a good time. Hopefully, your definition of “fun time” is not totally food centered, but a splurge here and there is good for the soul. This being said there are other ways to have fun and escape from life’s little routine. Explore a new town, try a new activity, go on a photo expedition. Sit together in a cafe and tell each other stories. Grab a book (or a kindle!) and hit the beach. Find what your definition of relaxing is, and make it happen. It’s the whole point!
Time to come home:
You had a fabulous weekend, you splurged on things that were totally worth it, you resisted the temptations that really weren’t, all in all a successful weekend on all fronts. You’re now on the way home and you would like to not wait 3 weeks to get back on track.
Shop your list on the way home
Remember the list of perishables that you made before you left and that you brought along? Take it out and make sure to stop by the store on your way home. Yes you are probably tired and don’t feel like it, but do anyway. It’s only a few minutes, and it will make your getting back on track so much easier.
Follow your plan
You have the week planned out, start on it right away. Do not wait until tomorrow, do not put it aside, follow it! Get up in the morning and work out, cook that dinner! If you kept it simple and easy, it shouldn’t be too difficult. The more you wait, the harder it will be to get back into your routine.
Review how the whole thing went
What worked? What didn’t? How realistic was your plan really? How could you improve on it? What about your preparation for the week back home? Was it helpful? Could you have done something differently? Make notes of what worked and of what could be better to be used next time. Don’t worry about it too much if your weekend didn’t go as planned. It’s only 2 days and if you got back on track right away, you shouldn’t have too much problem making up for the extra calories. Learn from it though! That’s what this is all about, learning what works for you and setting aside what doesn’t.
There you have it, that’s my “Weekend Getaway Action Plan”. It’s very similar to my “Vacation plan” only for a longer vacation, I put more time on putting together my plan for the vacation itself. If I’m out for 2 days, I figure I can’t really do too much damage, on a 7-14 days trip though, well, I can apparently put on 7 lbs of Nutella!
A few extra steps can bring treasures.
I think that having a plan of action to prepare for, enjoy, and come back from a weekend getaway takes the worries out of it. The idea is to keep in mind that yes, I want to keep moving toward my goals, but also I want to be able to take time for myself, my husband, and not have to be regimented all the time. Controlled splurges are the best way to “release the pressure” and keep you from “diet fatigue”.
You don’t have to be perfect to be successful, you have to be persistent!
What are your strategies to keep a weekend getaway from leading you completely off track?