The Midlife Summer Travel Edit

One of the biggest shifts I have made over the past few years is stopping the cycle of coming home from holiday feeling exhausted.

Travel will always disrupt your routine. That is part of the joy. But I have learnt that a handful of small habits help me feel energised, sleep better and return home feeling healthier than when I left.

Here is what now makes its way into almost every trip.

1. Choose movement friendly accommodation

Before I book anywhere, I always check whether there is a gym, a small fitness studio or simply enough space to roll out a yoga mat.

Even better if the hotel already has mats, dumbbells or resistance bands I can borrow.

I rarely need much more than twenty minutes, but knowing the option is there makes all the difference.

2. Pack less clothes and more movement

I only ever pack two or three workout outfits.

They take up very little space and I simply hand wash them every few days.

It sounds incredibly simple but removing the excuse that I “didn’t bring the right clothes” (or shoes) means movement naturally becomes part of every holiday.

3. Find the morning light

This has become completely non-negotiable for me.

Whether I am walking along the beach, sitting with a coffee on the terrace or stretching on the balcony, I try to spend my first few minutes outside.

Morning sunlight is one of the simplest ways to support your circadian rhythm, energy and sleep, especially after travelling across time zones.

4. Embrace slower mornings

During term time so many of us are racing.

School runs.

Meetings.

After-school clubs

Traffic.

Summer offers a rare opportunity to slow the pace.

Rather than filling every minute with sightseeing or family activites, I try to savour longer breakfasts, slower conversations and mornings that unfold naturally.

That gentle pace is often more restorative than an expensive spa treatment (although spa time is definitely a win!).

5. Make space to think

Some of my best ideas never arrive at my desk.

They appear on a sun lounger, during a morning walk or over a quiet coffee while everyone else is still asleep.

I always pack a notebook.

Sometimes I journal.

Sometimes I revisit my vision board.

Sometimes I simply write down thoughts I have not had space to hear during everyday life. It’s surprising what surfaces when you have an idle moment.

6. Let local food nourish you

One of my favourite parts of travelling is discovering beautiful local produce. My daughter always says ‘Mummy not ANOTHER Greek salad’ but honestly its all so delicious. Fresh fruit from markets, grilled fish by the sea and seasonal vegetables. There is a reason why the mediterranean diet is linked to longevity.

I love long relaxed lunches and dinners shared with family. I never think about restriction on holiday, I think about nourishment, colour and variety.

7. Never leave your supplements behind

Supplements are one of the easiest wellness habits to maintain while travelling.

I decant everything into small travel containers or buy the sachet format before I leave and keep them beside my toothbrush so they become part of my morning routine.

Little habits are much easier to maintain than trying to start again when you return home.

8. Move whenever you can but do it joyfully

You do not have to “work out” every day on holiday. Walk to dinner or explore on foot taking the scenic route. Better yet, walk after dinner, a proven way to improve digestion and sleep.

Swimming is another summer favourite of mine. It’s such a beautiful way to move with resistance without loading the joints.

Take your mat outside and enjoy movement in nature. Our community chat is peppered with photos of mats on the terrace or lawn where SL warriors are enjoying the sunshine whilst they fit in their session.

Play with your children, it’s often the most fun workout you will ever have.

Movement woven naturally into your day often feels far more joyful than another session in the gym.

9. Protect your sleep

I travel with an eye mask, ear plugs and a magnesium supplement wherever I go.

A cooler bedroom (if available), less evening scrolling and a consistent bedtime (when possible) can make a remarkable difference, particularly during perimenopause when sleep is often more fragile.

But as we all know, holidays can involve longer evenings, the odd glass of rose so try not to get too ‘tied’ to the idea that a later night is a fail but do try protect at least 7 hours of sleep when possible and perhaps enjoy the odd nap in the shade (a delicious holiday treat!).

10. Remember the goal

The goal of a holiday is not to come home needing another holiday, it is to return feeling more like yourself.

A little stronger.

A little calmer.

A little more connected.

That is what I now call travelling well, because wellness is not something you pause for summer, it is something that quietly travels with you.