Chris Judd: 5 ways to stay active on the road

It can be tough to exercise when you’re away from home. But it’s not impossible. Chris Judd shares tips from his time on the road.

When we’re out on the road, most of our everyday routines are mixed up. Waking up in a new bed, sleeping to a different schedule, adjusting your diet – all these small changes can throw you for a loop.

Routine fuels habit, so any shift can easily change our behaviours. Of course, this applies to exercise as well – sticking to your regular fitness routine while you’re travelling can be tough. I still get to travel a lot, and when I was playing football professionally, I was often on the road.

But exercising on the go is not an impossible task. Here are some tips that I’ve picked up over the years for keeping myself moving when I’m not in Melbourne. Hopefully, they’ll keep you active, too.

A lot of the time, exercising on the road means being an active observer. Back when I was still playing footy, Bec and I would regularly travel together during the off-season. Whenever we’d drive through a new place, Bec would eye off different fashion outlets and shops, but I’d be on the lookout for places to run on grass or gyms close to our hotel.

It’s really a matter of horses for courses. Maybe you’re a keen swimmer – chances are there’ll be a pool somewhere nearby. There are plenty of opportunities to exercise if you look for them.

When it comes to exercise, no matter where you are, you’ll always get the best outcomes when you enjoy what you’re doing. Of course, I got lucky – I made a career out of an activity I love. But you don’t have to be a professional athlete to discover the joy of exercise.

If you don’t view exercise as a chore at home, you’re less likely to break your routine when you travel. I learned this lesson when I was starting out my career. I remember players would whinge about having to exercise during the eight weeks off from training. I quickly learned to shift my mindset away from that attitude to tell myself that I want to exercise on my own, as opposed to simply needing to.

If you can exercise outside, look at travelling as an opportunity to discover new roads, explore new parks, unearth new beaches. Jogging, for example, is a great way to see a new place – just lace up your shoes and see where they take you.

If indoor activity is your game, use the trip to explore new gym facilities, or swim in the ocean or sea baths as opposed to a standard pool (or vice versa).

Travelling is about exploring. Exercise included.

Our last family holiday was to the snow, so we spent a lot of time outdoors with the kids. It wasn’t high-intensity exercise, but we were moving all day as opposed to lounging around. Which meant we were constantly engaged as a family, staying fit, and not glued to our screens the entire trip.

We Aussies love a good beach holiday. These are perfect for staying active. You and the kids can splash around in the water, build sandcastles, and maybe even have a surf. And at no point does it feel like exercise, but you can still sneak in a cheeky run along the beach in the morning if you want to.

Former Australian Rules footballer Chris Judd is familiar with how to get your heart rate up and push yourself physically. Twice winner of the prestigious Brownlow Medal, Chris is an honoured sportsman and father to four children, Oscar, Billie, Tom and Darcy. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.