End-of-Year Travel + Mobility: How to Take Care of Your Body When Your Routine Is Gone

End of the year usually means breaking up our routine. Traveling. Sitting in cars and planes longer than your body wants to. Carrying bags that are heavier than you planned. Sleeping in beds that aren’t yours. Practicing yoga less consistently and moving more sporadically.

And then suddenly your hips feel tight, your low back is cranky, your neck won’t turn, and your nervous system feels fried. 😥

This isn’t because you’re doing anything wrong. It’s because your body thrives on rhythm, and the end of the year is anything but rhythmic.

Mobility is what keeps you grounded when your routine disappears.

Here are the things I want you to remember as we head into the busiest, most disorienting part of the year.

First, sitting “strangely” isn’t the problem. Sitting without movement is.

Cross-legged on a couch. Knees up in a plane seat. Twisted sideways in a car. None of that is inherently bad. What creates stiffness and pain is staying there too long without counter-movement.

So try this - every hour or two, give your body something different:

• Hip extension after long periods of hip flexion

• Gentle spinal rotation after being stuck forward

• Neck circles after staring straight ahead

• Ankle and foot movement after being immobile

You don’t need a full workout. You need variety!

Second, luggage is a sneaky stressor.

Rolling bags, backpacks, tote bags, purses. Your body is constantly managing uneven load. One shoulder working harder. One hip stabilizing more. One side of your core firing nonstop.

Switch sides often. Carry things closer to your center. If you’re pulling luggage, pause and stand tall every so often to reset your posture. Your body is adaptable, but it needs reminders.

Third, mobility matters more than intensity right now.

This is not the season to force yourself into hard workouts if your body is already overwhelmed. Mobility is how you maintain strength without burning yourself out. It keeps your joints happy, your nervous system calmer, and your energy more stable.

Ten minutes of intentional movement will do more for you right now than an hour of pushing through fatigue. Think hips, spine, shoulders, feet. These are the places that take the biggest hit when you travel.

Fourth, rest is part of mobility!

Mobility isn’t just stretching. It’s your body feeling safe enough to release tension. When you slow your breath, soften your jaw, and stop rushing, your body responds.

If you’re feeling stiff, inflamed, or “locked up,” that’s not a cue to force more. It’s a cue to listen.

This is the exact reason I’ve been sharing more mobility-focused practices lately. Because life doesn’t stop just because your body needs care. Mobility meets you where you are.

And if you want daily mobility tips, simple practices, and real-life movement guidance, come hang out with me on Instagram and TikTok. I’m sharing what actually works when your body feels off and your schedule is all over the place.

Take care of your body during the chaos. It’s the one thing that’s carrying you into the new year. 😘