Travel is the great disruptor of routine. But what if you could carry your habits with you?

For me, habits are a throughline in life — they help me stay anchored to what matters. Writing, exercising, and eating well keep me grounded, energized, and happy.

But so often when I travel, those habits slip. A week or two later, I find myself needing to re-establish them. I’ve broken a writing streak, I feel physically weak, and maybe I’ve put on a few pounds. The momentum disappears.

Recently, I’ve been experimenting with a new commitment: keep the habits alive — no matter where I am. Health and movement are non-negotiables, even on the road.

First iteration:

I made a point to eat “healthy” when dining out — salads, juice bars, etc. I also went to a gym for strength training at least once every three days.
It worked, but it got expensive.

Second iteration:

Now I travel with a jump rope. On my first full day in any new place (as long as I’m staying two nights or more), I find a grocery store and grab the basics: kale, spinach, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions — whatever I need to throw together a solid, nutrient-packed salad.

This has been a game changer.For the first time, I don’t come back from a trip feeling like I need to ‘get back on track’ — because I never left it.

The consistency feels amazing. I don’t get sluggish while traveling. I know I’m keeping momentum with my fitness and health goals. Add my daily writing to the mix, and I feel centered — even in motion.

Not everyone will take this approach, and that’s okay. The real trick is to find habits that are portable — things you can do anywhere, with minimal friction. Jump rope works for me. Grocery stores are everywhere. That’s all I need.

So here’s the invitation:

If you know you’ll be traveling, what’s one habit you can bring with you?
Start small — one gym session, one salad, one walk around the block. Small moves keep the momentum alive. And from there, you build.