Tag: tips

Warm Weather Workout Ideas

Leave a comment

Happy Monday!

I’ve had a pretty busy morning considering the current situation, so I’m finally getting around to finishing up and posting today’s post. I’ve been spending a lot of my time these past few months staying active, and not only has it kept my physical health on track, but it’s really benefitted my mental health as well, and helped me pass the time. Now that it’s finally getting warmer out (for the most part), it’s been a lot easier and a lot more enjoyable to stay active. So, this week I wanted to share some of my favorite ways (and new habits) of getting exercise throughout my day, and hopefully I can inspire some of you to work some of these into your routine!

1. Walking and Running

I mentioned this in my last fitness-related post, but I can’t stress enough how amazing it’s been to get out of the house for at least an hour every day and run or walk. I definitely plan out my runs during the week to spread them out and make them more a part of my exercise routine, but I also make a point to walk a little bit at least once a day. I track my steps on my phone (especially after studying abroad, I was walking way more!), so I’ve been trying to keep my average steps level around the same number as it was before quarantine. At first this seemed impossible, since I’m not walking to class, work, etc., anymore, but it’s actually been a nice challenge to hold myself accountable for. When I run I need to listen to music, but when I go for walks, it’s been nice to meet up with or call/FaceTime friends, listen to a podcast, or just walk alone in silence with nature (I’ll usually only do this if I’m hiking or walking through a woods/nature path). It’s such an easy way to get movement into your day, and it completely changes my mood!

2. Yoga

I’ve always liked the idea of yoga and occasionally would go to hot yoga classes before quarantine, but to be honest, I could never fully implement yoga into my exercise routine. I’m very productive in all aspects of my life, including fitness, so my thought process was that if I were to take an hour out of my day to work out, it would be much more effective to run for an hour, or take a spin, barre, or bootcamp class. Yoga seemed like a nice way to relax, but not a high-intensity workout. Now that I have much more time on my hands, I’ve been doing A LOT more yoga (almost once a day) in addition to my regular daily workouts. The one yoga studio I would go to before quarantine (very rarely) was CorePower Yoga, and thankfully they’ve been live streaming SO MANY classes on YouTube. It’s been really nice to take a C2 yoga flow class after a long run, or take a yoga sculpt class as my daily workout (these are very hard).

Another fitness company whose workouts I’ve been loving recently is P.volve. This isn’t yoga, but it’s a low impact, high intensity workout that builds lean muscle strength with very little equipment, if any. They’ve been posting Instagram Live stories pretty frequently, so it’s been nice to add these onto my daily workouts as well. The workouts are much different from anything I’ve done in the past, so it’s a nice way to change up my routine and work my muscles in a new/different way.

Now that it’s warmer, I’ve been really liking doing both yoga and P.volve workouts in my backyard in the mornings – they’re not too high intensity, so it’s a nice way to wake up and get some fresh air before starting my day!

3. Cardio and HIIT Workouts

As I mentioned, I’ve always found the most productive way to work out (for my body) to be condensed, high intensity workout classes. This was the hardest part about social distancing for me (in terms of exercise) – not being able to take group fitness classes. However, I’ve actually gotten really into at-home workouts and I’ve been able to try so many different workout classes and studios than I could beforehand.

One of my new favorites is cardio kickboxing. I had heard lots about these classes in the past, but I never actually tried one for myself. This has now become one of my regular go-to’s, and it’s actually a much more effective workout than it seems in the moment. Punching the air doesn’t feel that difficult while taking the class, but when you’re doing it for an hour, you sweat a lot! This is also a much more fun way to work different muscles than just doing sit-ups and pushups.

In addition to cardio kickboxing classes, I’ve also been trying a bunch of different dance workouts and HIIT classes, while still using my Nike Training Center app that I mentioned in my previous fitness post to target different muscle groups. Again, now that the weather is warmer, I’ve been loving doing these classes outside! I’ll usually do one midday, after lunch or before dinner – this is when I have the most energy.

4. Outdoor Circuit Training

My favorite outdoor workout right now is something I’ve created on my own, and I’m excited to explore more/try with friends (hopefully soon)! I was fortunately able to bring home some equipment from the gym that I was working at before social distancing measures were strictly implemented, so I’ve been using this to set up some circuits throughout my backyard and driveway. It’s been nice to do this on the weekends when I have a bit more time in the mornings.

Specifically, I’ll set up various sets of dumbbells, resistance bands, an agility ladder, a jump rope, and a mat, and then I’ll write down a different exercise or set of exercises to do at each station. Depending on how long/difficult each round is, I will usually repeat everything 3-5 times. This has been a lot of fun to design workouts that I enjoy doing, spend time outside, and move around between arms, legs, core, and cardio. These are definitely very physically exhausting workouts, but they’re fun to do and far from boring!

5. ANY Outdoor Games/Activities!

Finally, it’s been nice to spend more time just being outside recently, with family or social distancing with friends. Even when I’m not doing a high intensity workout, spending time outside in the fresh air has been so beneficial for my physical and mental health. I forget how much I take time outdoors for granted, but now that I’m in my house most of the day, I make a point to get outside and just sit in my yard for a little bit each day. This tends to make me more active, whether I start going for a walk, play catch with friends, etc. So in any way you can, being outside is usually better than being inside!

I hope these activities can inspire you to be a bit more active in whatever ways are enjoyable for you, and if you have any of your own suggestions, please comment them below! As much as this situation has been difficult, I am looking forward to having a lot more time to be active and to be outside this summer. I’m excited to keep trying new exercises and make fitness more of a priority, and I hope you guys are too!

As always, stay healthy and safe, and I’ll see you all next week 🙂

xx,

Megan

Subscribe here for more content:

Current Favorites & Travel Essentials

Leave a comment

As promised, I’m back now with LOTS of new content now that I finally have some time to focus on my blog! As I transition into more lifestyle-centered posts in addition to my travel theme, I’m going to start off with a little bit of both in this post. I’ll be getting into my current favorites – everything I’m loving right now, from health products to books to social media – while also including some of my travel essentials – things I couldn’t live without on my trip this week!

First, I want to talk about what I’m reading right now. This is both a favorite and a travel essential – this is The Girls book series by Rachel Hollis. There are 3 books in this collection: Party Girl, Sweet Girl, and Smart Girl. I just finished Party Girl and am now starting Sweet Girl. I’m hoping to finish all three while on vacation this week, as they really are the perfect vacation books. I’ve already read Hollis’ other books, Girl, Stop Apologizing and Girl, Wash Your Face, which I highly recommend as well. These are all the kinds of books you can mindlessly read while relaxing (in my case on the beach!) and still get a lighthearted, feel good story.

Moving on from reading, I’ve also been catching up on my TV shows this week, and aside from my regulars like Grey’s Anatomy, This Is Us, and The Bachelor, I’ve started a couple of other new series as well. On my flight here, I started getting into Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, a three-part Netflix documentary series. I’d always been interested in this case and finally had the time to get into the documentary, and there is so much more going on than I thought – definitely a good series to get into, but one that you need to pay attention to while watching. Another show I picked up this week that I can’t stop watching is Netflix’s original reality show, The Circle. This is another one I’ve been wanting to watch for a while and I’ve heard so many good things about it, and I’m so glad I finally started watching! This one is definitely more laid back and I don’t have to pay too close attention, but it’s still such an interesting concept for a show and I’m getting more and more into it each episode.

One more TV favorite is another Netflix documentary – Miss Americana. This is Taylor Swift’s documentary which I just recently watched, and I would hands down recommend this to anyone, even if you aren’t a fan. I’ve always been a pretty big Taylor Swift fan, but even watching this documentary completely changed my perspective on her success and the changes she’s made throughout her career. Once again, there’s so much more to her story than we see on the outside, so I definitely think documentary is worth a watch.

Moving on, a few things I couldn’t travel without (besides these books and shows) include:

  • My 40 oz. (extra large!) HydroFlask – I drink SO much water, so having this on a long flight was necessary. It’s also been great to have with me throughout the week so I don’t have to use plastic, and have enough water to get me through a long beach day.
  • I’ve never been one to care too much about germs (except for your normal hand washing/sanitary norms), but this week I am not taking ANY chances in an airport, so I stocked up on Clorox wipes and Purell, which definitely made me feel better on my flight down.
  • In general, I always end up feeling kind of gross after flying, so keeping a pack of facial wipes with me (any simple cleansing wipes – I like micellar water wipes!) helps A LOT after landing!
  • Having enough good content downloaded for any flight is a necessity. I know I mentioned all of these new shows and movies I’ve been watching, but I also love listening to Podcasts when I get sick of music. For this flight I downloaded an episode of Gals on the Go Podcast and The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast – my two favorites!
  • Gum and snacks are always a must for me on planes, no matter how short the flight. On this trip, I brought a banana from home since it was early in the morning and I wasn’t too hungry yet, but usually I’ll buy a sandwich or some trail mix, and an iced coffee on shorter flights.

For now, that’s all I’m going to get into, but I’ll definitely be back soon with an update on my spring break trip (so far, doing great)! I’m very excited to expand more on my writing and get into more things I’m passionate about, so I hope you’re all on board 🙂 

Let me know if there’s anything specific you want to hear from me, and subscribe below to stay updated when I post new content! Have a great rest of your week, and I’ll see you soon.

xx,

Megan

Subscribe here for regular updates!


10 Tips for Traveling Alone

Leave a comment

Happy Monday!

I’m back this week with a very important (and very relevant) topic: solo travel. While studying abroad last semester, I knew I wanted to take at least one trip alone for a few reasons. First, I wanted to have a very productive and busy weekend, which was definitely easier to plan without having to coordinate a schedule with others. Also, there was a part of me that just wanted to prove to myself that I could plan and go on a trip entirely by myself. You might remember that this first solo trip was a long weekend of “backpacking” (it was only four days) through Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. I have another semi-solo trip coming up soon, so I thought I would share some of my tips with you all for solo travel, since it’s definitely something most people avoid!

  1. Do your research! Your trip will be a lot more comfortable and less stressful if you plan where you’re staying, your transportation, activities, etc., in advance, so that you know you’ll have things to do and you’ll be safe while traveling. Look into the hotel, airbnb, etc., that you’re staying at to make sure it has good reviews, and try to get local recommendations from friends/family of things you can do/places you can visit.
  2. Plan to be busy. Especially since you’ll be by yourself, it can get boring if you don’t have much to do. It might be an exhausting trip, but you’ll be much happier staying occupied than sitting around relaxing (for the most part!)
  3. Pack a lock for your things – especially if you’re staying in a hostel or a more public residence. This will keep your things safe overnight, and will also be useful if you’re doing activities throughout the day and don’t want to carry everything around the whole time.
  4. Plan your meals ahead of time! From my experience, breakfast and lunch are pretty easy to figure out, but it can definitely be weird eating dinner alone, so making sure you have somewhere to go will be helpful.
  5. Plan dinner dates – going along with my previous point about eating meals alone, it can be nice to have a phone call or facetime date planned so you’re not really eating alone.
  6. Figure out transportation ahead of time. You don’t want to get stuck without a ride home or to the airport, so research transportation options in the area you’re traveling ahead of time and see what’s available near you. Whether you need to book a taxi in advance, or confirm that Uber operates in your city, this will relieve lots of stress while traveling!
  7. Be careful at night! Especially if you are a girl (unfortunately), be aware of your surroundings, and try to stay in groups/in public places if possible. Be responsible and try to avoid any potentially dangerous situation. While I was in Eastern Europe alone, I completely avoided any danger and simply stayed in after dinner (which helped me start my days earlier anyways!)
  8. Keep track of important belongings, especially when you’re alone.
    In general, you should keep tabs on your phone, wallet, and passport, but when you’re by yourself, you don’t have a friend to fall back on if something happens to these. Keep them in a safe place and be careful of pickpockets!
  9. Know where you’re going. Of course you won’t know exactly how to get everywhere you’re going, but having a general idea of landmarks and names of sights or restaurants can help in the case that your phone dies or you need to ask for directions. Quickly mapping out your day before you head out can help a lot.
  10. Meet new (or old) friends! Lots of people are trying solo travel nowadays, so it’s likely you’re not the only one where you’re going who is alone. Especially if you’re staying in a hostel or similar residence, there are always lots of young people who you can hang out with. Similarly, if you know someone who lives in the area you’re visiting, plan to catch up!

Personally, I think everyone should try solo travel at least once while they’re young, because even though it can be scary/uncomfortable, it’s definitely a great learning experience and truly shows you how independent you can be. Not only that, but if there’s somewhere you really want to explore and can’t seem to get a group to go, this is a great way to completely design your own schedule and your own trip so that you can accomplish everything you’ve been wanting to.

During my first trip alone, I learned the hard way that I really don’t like being alone. That being said, I wouldn’t change anything about the experience, because in the end I had a great weekend and it made me more comfortable doing things on my own. I packed so much into those four days which I don’t think I would’ve been able to do otherwise, and I’m now looking forward to planning more solo trips so that I can enjoy traveling alone.

I hope these tips are helpful and that this encourages you to step outside of your comfort zone when it comes to traveling. I’m excited to finally be taking a couple more trips soon, so I’ll have some new content for you in the future. Subscribe below to come along with me, and I’ll see you all next week!

xx,

Megan

Subscribe here for content delivered directly to your inbox:

Tips for Easy & Efficient Packing

1 Comment

Good morning!

This week’s post is a bit more pragmatic and organizational, rather than my usual travel guides and stories, but definitely helpful information! Today we’ll be talking about how to pack minimally and effectively for any kind of trip.

Some general suggestions:

  • Look ahead at the weather for your trip! It’s good to be prepared and to know what kinds of clothes/accessories you might need while traveling. For example, if it’s going to rain on your trip, you’ll definitely want to know that in advance!
  • Pack for the events and activities you’ll be doing while traveling. If you’re walking a lot, pack comfortable shoes. Packing by outfit is also a good idea, so you’re not bringing extra clothes, and so you don’t have to stress about what to wear while traveling.
  • Bring a reusable water bottle with you, or buy one to keep for the week/weekend at the airport ahead of time. You don’t realize how helpful this will be until you don’t have water when you need it!
  • Try to pack in the smallest possible bag or suitcase. This will be physically easier to travel with, and also probably cheaper to check/take with you.

For shorter trips:

  • Again, it’s cheaper to pack lighter, so if you’re only traveling for a few days, try to make do with just a carryon bag (which are almost always free on flights), instead of paying to check a larger suitcase.
  • Using a backpack to travel instead of a suitcase or duffle bag is a good idea if you’ll be on the go a lot. Being able to carry everything on your back and not worry about holding onto a bag makes travel much easier!
  • For just a quick trip, it’s a good idea to rewear clothes if possible. Try to bring just one or two pairs of shoes, and one pair of jeans that you can wear multiple times. These things tend to be bulkier, so avoiding having to pack multiple will leave you lots of space.
  • Check if where you are staying has laundry available – this way you really don’t have to worry about bringing extra changes of clothes!
  • Wear layers or your bulkiest items while traveling so you don’t have to pack them. Wear your heaviest pair of shoes, or your largest jacket, to save room in your bag for smaller items.

For longer trips:

  • Think about what you’re really going to need on your trip, and whether you can rewear these items or mix and match them in different ways. Chances are, you can get away with packing a lot less than you think, if you just plan ahead and put together some outfits beforehand.
  • Take into account how often you’ll be able to do laundry (if you’ll have access to this). You probably don’t need to bring as many extra t-shirts or pairs of jeans, as long as you can wash the ones you bring regularly.
  • Try not to pack heavy or bulky items, like big boots or thick sweaters, if possible to avoid. You’ll probably find that you don’t need them anyways.
  • Make sure to leave some room in your suitcase if you’re planning on buying souvenirs while traveling!
  • Pack tightly to maximize space – roll your clothes into smaller bundles, and pack smaller items inside larger ones (for example, you can fit a couple travel-size shampoo bottles into an empty reusable water bottle) to fit more!
  • Pack in bags that you’ll be using during the trip, like a tote bag as your carryon and beach bag, or a backpack that you can take with you for day activities, so you don’t have to pack these separately.
  • If you have packing cubes or vacuum bags, these are a great way to maximize your space when you really need to squeeze a lot!

Packing always seems to be a struggle, so these are just a few suggestions to ease the process and effectively fit everything you need into a smaller space. I’ve definitely gotten better at packing over the many trips I’ve taken, and I now realize that most of the things I thought were necessary in the past I really could have gone without.

Obviously everyone has tips and tricks that work best for them, but these are just my top recommendations that I’ve seen work for my friends, family, and I. I hope this helps, and please reach out with any questions or comments! Have a great week, and I’ll see you next Monday 🙂

xx,

Megan

Subscribe below!

TRAVEL GUIDE: 24 Hours in Prague

1 Comment

Good morning!

Today we’re talking about quick trips – this one to Prague, Czechia. If you remember back in October, I spent a weekend alone in Eastern Europe, and I had just over 24 hours in each of the cities I visited. It was definitely an ambitious and busy weekend, but I quickly learned how to manage my time and get the most out of each city in the short time I was there.

My first and favorite stop on this trip was Prague, Czechia, so I wanted to go into a bit more detail on how I spent my day, and give you a more structured itinerary on how to best see the city in just 24 hours. I definitely would recommend spending more time there, and I hope to go back some day and see more of the area, but for a quick study abroad weekend, I’m satisfied with what I accomplished.

To begin, I want to mention that Prague is a very walkable city. I was never too far from where I needed to be, and I never felt the need to take a taxi or a bus anywhere. The only thing I would pay attention to, though, is how far from the city the airport is. From what I remember, the drive from the airport to the city center was about 30-45 minutes, so plan ahead for this – you will definitely need to drive or take public transportation!

Once you’ve made it to the city center, everything is relatively close to one another. Sone highlights I definitely recommend hitting are:

  • Prague Castle and St. George’s Basilica – these are right next to each other, and you can buy tickets to walk around inside.
  • Letensky Sady (one of Prague’s largest parks) and the Prague Metronome – a bit out of the way, but very peaceful and worth spending some time here to take a break from the major city sites.
  • Old Town Square – there is so much to see here! Stop by the famous astronomical clock, the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, and the Old Jewish Quarter. This is also a great place to do souvenir shopping.
  • Charles Bridge – my FAVORITE part about Prague!
  • John Lennon Wall – cross over the Charles Bridge into Mala Strana, a much younger part of the city.

Some food recommendations:

  • The Farm: a modern, trendy cafe that’s a bit outside of the city but (in my opinion) definitely worth the walk. It’s right past Letensky Sady if you’re already in the area!
  • Trdelnik: a traditional cinnamon sugar rolled pastry, which you can get with ice cream, chocolate sauce, fruit, etc. I recommend getting this fresh from a street vendor in Old Town Square – much better than in a shop!
  • Traditional Czechia food is mostly comfort food, so this is a good option for dinner. There are lots of restaurants in Mala Strana worth exploring.

If you’re only staying in Prauge for 24 hours, I recommend finding a cheap hostel to stay in overnight. Hotel rooms are also a good option, but I found that the hostels in Prague are generally very clean and comfortable, and you can leave your belongings here for the day so you don’t need to carry everything around. You can find a bed for around $15/night, which I think is worth it for such a short stay. The hotels are also very centrally located, so you’ll always be close to something fun!

As much as there is to do in Prague, it can also very easily be done in one day (if needed), so even if you already have a packed itinerary, I highly suggest finding some time to spend here. Prague was definitely my favorite Eastern European city that I visited, and I think there’s something for everyone here.

Let me know if you have any specific questions on traveling through Prague, or Eastern Europe in general, and I’ll see you next week!

Safe travels!

xx,

Megan

Subscribe for new content delivered right to your inbox each week:

Tips for Affordable Travel in Europe

Leave a comment

Good morning!

Coming from the States, travel throughout Europe can seem like a busy, far-away, and expensive trip, so most people keep putting it off and never end up getting the chance to explore all that is out there. I’ve learned that Europe is actually much more accessible and affordable than it seems, and with a little planning, you can enjoy an amazing trip for a minimal cost!

FLIGHTS

  • Booking flights early in the morning or late at night is usually cheaper than during the day (and maximizes your time where you’re traveling without having to pay for an extra night of housing!)
  • Pack light! Having to pay for more checked bags is usually an unnecessary added cost, so look into how many bags you are allowed free with your airline (it’s easier to travel with fewer bags anyways)
  • Take into account how far away the airport is from where you need to be – sometimes it could be an hour or two outside the city, so plan accordingly!
  • For travel between cities within Europe, compare flights with buses and trains – sometimes it’s cheaper to take a train, and not too much longer (and if you’re really on a budget, you can take an overnight bus or train to save money on a hotel!)

HOUSING

  • Look at ALL of your options when booking a place to stay. Depending on the city, your group size, and how much you’re planning on being in the room, hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs can all be good options.
  • Look at where you’re staying relative to the city center, or wherever you’re planning on spending most of your time – account for transportation costs!

TRANSPORTATION

  • Public transportation is usually the cheapest option and not too hard to figure out in most cities, so it’s worth trying if you’re on a budget
  • That being said, make sure to buy a ticket! Most cities allow you to get on a bus or train without having to scan any ticket, but you can be heavily fined if caught without one.
  • Some cities, don’t have Uber or other ride sharing services, so make sure you know which services are available

OTHER TIPS

  • Plan ahead for whatever activities you want to do – some things require tickets, so make sure you purchase that all in advance in case things sell out!
  • You’ll also want to plan transportation and timing ahead of time. Set up a loose itinerary for each day to ensure you get to do everything you have planned.
  • Be aware of local customs! Not only is this respectful when visiting another city, but it can be helpful for you, too. For example, we tip employees most places we go in the States, but in most European countries, this is not necessary.
  • This was something I learned the hard way, but as a population, Europeans drink significantly less water than Americans, so restaurants will not give you water unless you ask, and when they do, it’s usually a very small glass. Make sure to stay hydrated and carry a bottle with you, especially if you’re busy throughout the day!

I hope these tips help! There is definitely a lot to learn along the way, and I’m sure I could come up with lots more suggestions for European travel, but for the most part, it’s relatively simple as long as you’re prepared. Feel free to comment any specific questions before your trip, I am happy to give any advice I have, and subscribe below for more content each week!

Happy travels!

xx,

Megan