My job requires me to travel a lot.
- There are months when I spend more nights in hotels than in my own home.
While I enjoy exploring new places, this lifestyle makes it more difficult to keep physically fit and healthy. My hours are constantly changing and my job is sedentary. I sit in airport terminals, sit on the plan and sit at conferences and in meetings. Eating at restaurants for every meal adds up to a lot of calories. I’ve learned how to take care of myself. As soon as I arrive at my destination, I make a trip to the store. I buy bottled water, fresh fruit, yogurts and salad kits. I always choose a hotel with at least a mini fridge and try to find those that include a kitchenette. I also look for accommodations that feature a fitness center that is open 24/7. Some of these fitness rooms are little more than a single treadmill and some hand weights. Others are gorgeous facilities outfitted with state-of-the-art ellipticals, stationary bikes and the latest in fitness equipment. If I am lucky, the hotel will offer a swimming pool. I make sure to workout for anywhere from thirty to sixty minutes every day. I prioritize a thorough stretch where I focus on flexibility, range of motion and balance. There are times when I workout first thing in the morning. There are those long days when I can’t get my workout accomplished until late at night. I’ve learned that making time for the workout is essential to avoiding aches, pains and insomnia.