03/29/2026
Vacation isnât about keeping up with a workout routine. For me, itâs about stepping away from one.
Owning a business and working as a physical therapist, most of my life is structured. Iâm constantly thinking, planning, learning, and trying to be productive while also following a training program. In a world that pushes us to always be âon,â itâs easy to feel like slowing down means youâre falling behind.
On vacation, I let that go. I wake up without a plan, move based on how I feel, and give my brain a break from trying to optimize everything. Iâm still active. Iâm swimming, walking, being outside. Itâs just intuitive instead of structured.
Research also shows that taking a short planned break from lifting doesnât cause any real muscle loss. If anything, it helps long term by reducing built up fatigue, giving your nervous system a reset, and letting your body fully recover. Sometimes stepping away is what actually moves you forward.
But the mental break matters just as much. Time without a schedule, without pressure to be productive, without constantly thinking about whatâs next. We already push hard enough the rest of the year.
If youâre on vacation, this is your permission slip to do the same. Youâre not losing progress. Enjoy the vacation you worked hard to earn!
So yes, the only âformal workoutâ on my schedule this week is a few bicep curls by the pool đšAnd thereâs no reason to feel guilty about that!