8 Fitness Hacks for Event Travel

Health and wellness is a term frequently embraced by various organizations in the hopes of providing attendees and associates alike with an outlet for feeling better. But people are busy. With so much riding on the success of an event in the hopes of seeing a satisfactory ROI, the likelihood of sacrificing one’s health for the cause increases. This is where fitness hacks come in.

Here are a few fun and easy-to-do tips to stay healthy while on the road. 

1. Buy the Ticket, Check the Bag

There’s no better feeling than deboarding your flight, smugly trotting past the baggage carousel and making a break for the airport exit with your carry-on luggage in tow. Sure, you might end up wearing the same thing for three days, but you’ve figured out how to disguise it with colorful scarves or flashy pocket squares. But you were forced to leave your gym gear behind. Don’t do it!

Use luggage that can fit your gear and gym shoes, and pay the fee to check your baggage. Not only can you bring what you need to continue training, but the financial commitment of paying a fee can also serve as motivation to avoid flaking on your routine.

2. Steal Your Breakfast Back

Networking is important. It’s likely a top priority for attendees and event producers alike. But many people aren’t in the mood first thing in the morning. How badly do you need to stand in line at a buffet, awaiting your turn to shove some runny eggs onto your plate?

People are too busy mentally preparing for a packed day and will hardly notice your absence, so start your day by skipping breakfast and getting an early morning workout. 

3. Big Dumb Cups

These things are all the rage right now. Stanley – the company made famous by their thermoses that scream to the world that you’re off to a pipefitter job in the wee hours of the morning – has suddenly become trendy.

The once hard-bitten brand has become more welcoming to the general public, making it cool and easy to stay hydrated on the go. 

4. Locate Starbucks 

If someone tells you they don’t drink coffee, remain calm and slowly walk away. Next, find the nearest Starbucks (many hotels have one in their lobby) or equivalent because caffeine is the life force that propels so many of us through hectic event schedules.

Not only are coffee shops a beacon of relief for haggard travelers, but coffee, in general, can save you from the pitfalls of hunger pangs. That’s right. Like many stimulants, caffeine can serve as an appetite suppressant. So get jacked on a venti cup of joe and avoid cheating on your diet. 

5. Stress Ball for Your Mouth

Have you ever been so agitated that you just want to take a bite out of the swag bag stress ball you’ve been punishing for hours? Now you can!

Perhaps you’re one of the lucky few the algorithm has selected to pipe jaw-toner ads into your feed. This handy little invention marries stress relief with an oral fixation and promises to provide users with a chiseled jawline Brad Pitt or Timothee Chalamet. 

6. Edible Pregame 

Aesthetically pleasing and mostly delicious mocktails are all the rage now, but alcohol isn’t likely to disappear from event receptions and dinners soon. But there’s another way to take the edge off while avoiding the consumption of a bunch of sugar and calories.

Marijuana – in its many creative forms – is legal in the majority of U.S. states*. But is it legal to bring edibles aboard my flight? Chances are you’ll never find out because TSA agents are not likely to search your luggage to inspect what looks like candy. 

*Due to current state laws, this tip is not applicable or recommended for those traveling in Wyoming, Wisconsin, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Indiana, Idaho, or Georgia. 

7. Rock Your Body (Weight)

In the case that the hotel you’re staying in lacks a proper gym setup – or has no gym at all – there’s still hope in getting pumped and burning some calories. Your own body weight can provide sufficient resistance, given you keep your movements within an effective rep range.

Here’s a quick workout you can do in your room any time of day:

• Body weight squats: 20 reps
• Push-ups: 10 reps
• Lunges: 10 reps for each leg
• Floor crunches: 10-15 reps
• Planks: 30-60 seconds
• Jumping jacks: 30 reps

Repeat for 2-4 sets. 

8. Get Your Rest

A lack of sleep has many consequences beyond causing brain fog and feeling sluggish. Staying up past your normal bedtime can result in a lack of motivation that will keep you from making it to the gym while generally being more sedentary due to fatigue.

What’s worse, sleep deprivation can also cause hormonal imbalances that can spike your appetite. A higher caloric intake with a lower physical output equals a failed routine. So don’t be shy about excusing yourself from the post-event festivities to take care of yourself.