Seven days of school left! Most of it is testing and finishing up this school year. Lots of you have planned camps and outings for your children and many of you have planned your family vacations and some of you have asked how to continue your exercise routine while on vacation. Of course, you can plan your vacations around your wishes and needs. Are you planning an active vacation? Or, is this a time you and your family need to relax and unwind? When I was young, we would go to Italy to a campground where there were tons of activities all day long, such as swim competitions, water polo matches, obstacle courses, rope pulling, dancing and more. When we got older, we went to France where we would windsurf and chill on the beach with our friends. We Europeans know how to take vacations! We went three weeks at a time, and some families went even longer (the Dutch can do that with a minimum of 5 weeks of paid vacation).

So, if your goal is to continue to exercise, look at your accessibility. What is available where you go? Is there a fitness facility, regular classes and programs that you can be part of?

Also, plan the time of day you are going to exercise. For most people on vacation, first thing in the morning works best for them. To me, vacation is stepping out of my typical day. Too many people are so stressed before, and during their vacation, that you are not getting the benefits you should be getting. I am blessed that the YMCA lets me take 2 weeks at a time. However, lots of companies don’t like you to take all of your vacation at once. That means you need to make the best of what you do have, and get the most out of your vacation. No, it does not mean that you do as much as you can do in the shortest amount of time available; it means you need to plan your vacation wisely.

What is your goal? Is it to de-stress? Is it to get yourself re-connected with friends and family? I hope the answer to both is yes!

Plan a general schedule, but don’t feel you need to stick to it. Enjoy your time with friends and family! Truly enjoy the moments. Whether you are at the beach, the mountains or a big city, walk as much as you can handle — long walks on the beach, hikes in the mountains or walks from museum to museum will be a great part of your vacation that can be included as exercising.

There are so many fun, active things you can do on your vacation wherever you are. Make sure you take that time to un-stress yourself. Stress will return soon enough.

Enjoy your fun, active and relaxing vacation! Not everyone has the ability to go on a summer vacation and next week I will be writing about a “staycation.” This is where you can make unforgettable memories with your family and friends right here at home!

Ester Marsh Associate Executive Director JF Hurley YMCA