Benefits of an Active Family Holiday

If you, or any member of your family, are experiencing mobility difficulties, you might not feel like it’s the right time to go on holiday. However, the benefits of an active holiday can still be felt – and, if planned correctly, can be felt even greater for those who need a little bit of motivation to remain active. For example, if they’re recovering from an injury or struggling to stay moving as they age. 

So let’s take a look at why a holiday can help:

Exploring encourages exercise 

You don’t need to get sweaty and out of breath to have exercised. Exploring a new destination is a great way to keep your body moving while your mind is busy taking in the new sights, sounds, and smells. Athletes often talk about walking as ‘active recovery’, where the gentle movement aids muscle repair, increases blood flow, and releases endorphins. This means it’s great for everyone in the family – regardless of their fitness level.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t have breaks and check in with how your body is feeling. It’s more about having a reason to be excited about being active, which can be tricky when you aren’t feeling 100%. 

Swimming is a fantastic low-impact exercise

Another fantastic option for increasing your exercise levels on holiday is swimming. A highlight of many family holidays, having access to a swimming pool or the sea is something you should take full advantage of. Thanks to the buoyancy of water, swimming reduces the stress of joints – particularly important on weight-bearing joints, such as knees and ankles. So it’s great for anyone recovering from injuries, and individuals with conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia, which can cause joint pain. Swimming is also just great fun for everyone.

Developmental benefits 

The benefits of a family holiday are not all about the exercise opportunities, though. Far from it. A family holiday is full of developmental opportunities for children as they grow up, thanks to the increased time outdoors, the chance to learn new skills, experience different cultures, and explore the history of different places. So even if movement is limited for some members of your family, there’s still so much to gain from travelling together.

Family bonding and memories 

We’ve also got to touch on the reality that a family holiday is an opportunity to spend time together without the interruptions of daily stresses, such as work. Sadly, this is something that’s quite rare nowadays with many families complaining about how little time they get to spend together (something which people actually miss about the Covid-19 pandemic).

A holiday is a true quality time where you can spend the day exploring a new place together, having fun in the pool, or trying new food in the evenings. If your family has been struggling with injuries or other challenges, the benefits of this time will be incredible for everyone’s wellbeing.

Paul Keeland 

Paul is a dad of two who spent most of last year recovering from a knee injury. Trying to rest while keeping up with young children was a challenge, but he recently felt lucky to take his own parents on a holiday with them. Having not been away with his parents since he was a teenager, he talks about what a positive experience the intergenerational holiday was for everyone.