4 Steps for Creating a Routine on the Road

What a first 12 days on the road! Already so many lessons learned, and adjustments needing to be made. I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but I thought I had things sorted for at least the first month of my travels. Little did I know that the one thing I needed to plan was a regular routine that could keep me grounded. I mean, wasn’t I leaving routine? Leaving the hum drum of daily life? The dull, and the boring? Not at all. What I left behind was my regular residence, my familiar surroundings, and my schedule. A schedule that had me working during specific times, working out regularly, taking care of personal business and errands at regular intervals, and yet still gave me ample time for play. The dull, boring schedule had to come along with me! Without a routine while travelling, life becomes a blur and things do not get done. I ran out of toothpaste, for crying out loud! The important thing for me to remember while designing my new lifestyle is that I’m not retired, on an endless holiday, independently wealthy, or done working. I’m simply taking my life on the road, and loving every second of it!

What follows are the 4 steps I’ve identified so far that I need to keep me functioning in a usual manner, while living in an unusual way:

1. Make a daily schedule- Written down, just like I had at home, it might go something like this…8-9am Wake-up & Workout, 9-10am Breakfast & Shower 10am-Noon Write Noon-12:30pm Snack & Short Walk 12:30-2:00pm Email & Twitter, etc, etc…You can say it, boring.

2. Travel slowly-I began my journey with a great deal of moving around. It had been planned that way, to attend concerts and sporting events I was dying to see, but it created chaos that I did not need. Travel days interrupt the routine, and cause unnecessary costs in the budget. Besides, to really enjoy a destination, and to live like a local as I had dreamt I must STAY. I’ll finish off the next week as I had planned, but I’ll be working towards staying at least a month in each wonderful spot going forward.

3. Find a health routine that fits travelling-Working out, sleeping and eating in a healthy way become even more important while travelling, because I am someone that needs good habits to maintain high energy. Without the schedule I mentioned above, I’ve acted as if I’ve been on vacation for a week and a half. I’ve slept in, eaten whatever I liked, and haven’t worked out. It’s fine for a short period of time, but I can already tell that I won’t feel my best if I keep up this pace. At a minimum I’ll take 10,000 steps a day (on a treadmill, or just sightseeing), and practice 30 minutes of Yoga twice a day to undo the damage from sitting and writing all day. Don’t forget D: Eat light & often, drink 2 liters of water a day, take walking/stretching breaks every 2 hours, and get eight hours of sleep a day (doing my best to get to bed and wake up at the same times every day) *****thanks to The Power of Full Engagement, where I learned to manage energy rather than time.

4. Make certain I have connectivity & a place conducive for work-I now consider the first bit of time after I’ve arrived in a new place my own “sound check”, if you will. Just as performers make sure that their equipment has arrived, and is working, I do a run through before I need to get to work. I’ve already found this reduces the stress in my life beyond words.

There you have it, a few simple first steps to make the most of my new adventure. This is definitely a work in progress, and I’ll update as things evolve, but please post comments on what’s worked for you!

Very best!

D

Flickr credit: My Yoga Online