When Your Routine Goes on Vacation: The Real Test of Sustainable Habits
I had a plan. We went on vacation, and I fully intended to keep some of my normal routines going. I packed the things I thought I would need. I planned when I could get some work done. I thought ahead about my wellness habits. I was prepared. And then…none of it happened.
My work got pushed aside. My normal wellness routine shifted. Things that are incredibly easy for me at home suddenly became barriers.
Easy access to water? Not so easy. My shaker cup? Not where I needed it. My normal rhythm of protein, gut health, movement, and daily routines? Completely disrupted. The funny thing is, I had actually anticipated some of these barriers. I had done the preparation. I just didn't necessarily follow through, and that distinction got my attention.
Sometimes the barrier isn't the barrier.
I was walking a lot on vacation, so movement wasn't really the issue. But about three days in, I started feeling…off. My mood shifted. I wasn't enjoying our time away quite as much. I felt less like myself, and I started noticing that some of the little things I normally do to support myself actually matter more than I realized. This made me ask a bigger question:
Where does sustainability actually happen?
Is it when everything is convenient? When we have our favorite water bottle, our normal schedule, our kitchen, our gym, our routine, and all the things that make healthy choices easier? Or does sustainability mean learning how to continue caring for ourselves when the environment changes?
I'm realizing it's the second one.
Follow-through is part of the equation.
We talk a lot about removing barriers. And that's important. But sometimes the barrier isn't physical. Sometimes it's mental. Sometimes it's situational. Sometimes it's relational. Sometimes it's simply that the easier choice in the moment feels better than the choice connected to our long-term goal.
For me, that was a big part of what happened on vacation. I knew what I wanted and I knew what supported me. I had even planned for some of the potential obstacles. But in the moment, comfort won. And honestly? That's human. The lesson wasn't that I failed at my routine. The lesson was that I found another layer of the work.
What is actually getting in the way?
When you find yourself struggling to follow through, try asking:
Is the barrier physical?
Is it mental?
Is it situational?
Is it relational?
Is the environment making the habit harder?
Am I making the habit more complicated than it needs to be?
Am I choosing what feels easiest right now over what supports the person I want to become?
What is the smallest version of this habit I could still do?
Because sometimes sustainability isn't about doing the entire routine. Sometimes it's about keeping one small promise to yourself. Maybe it's drinking the water. Maybe it's getting the protein in. Maybe it's taking the walk. Maybe it's getting five minutes of movement instead of your normal 30. Maybe it's recognizing that your routine needs to flex without completely disappearing.
Sustainable doesn't mean perfect.
I come back to this over and over again in my work. Sustainability isn't about creating a perfect routine. It's about creating a life where your routines can adapt to real life.
Vacations, kids, fire schedules, travel, busy seasons, unexpected circumstances, bad days, good days, all of it. The goal isn't to build a routine that only works when life behaves. The goal is to build habits that can survive when life doesn't. And sometimes the first step is simply becoming curious about the barrier instead of judging yourself for it.
For me, vacation gave me a pretty clear answer. The barrier wasn't that I didn't know what to do.
The barrier was my willingness to follow through when the environment changed, and the comfortable choice was right in front of me. That's useful information. And information gives us something to work with.
So what about you?
Think about one habit you're struggling to maintain right now. Instead of asking, "Why can't I stick with this?" Try asking: "What's actually getting in my way?" Then ask: "What is one small change that would make the next step easier?" If you're having trouble answering these questions, check out my sustainability guide to get started, see if this prompts you to find the next step.
That's where sustainability starts. Not with perfection, shame, or starting over Monday. Just one next step that makes taking care of yourself a little easier to repeat. Because the goal isn't to create a life that never gets disrupted. The goal is to create a life you can return to when it does.
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