Winging It Travel Podcast · Monday, September 14, 2026
The podcast highlights the concept of 'travel fitness,' characterized by hitting high step counts daily and engaging in high stimulus activities, which host James Hammond finds leads to better physical and mental health. This contrasts sharply with the 'shock of mundane' and predictable routine of domestic life upon returning home.
“The physiological shift. So moving from that constant pace, I call it travel fitness where you're probably hitting 10, 15, 20,000 steps a day because you're walking around new towns and cities, you're doing a hike, you're doing all these activities anyway.”
“It's high stimulus, rather than the predictable routine of domestic life. And I think I do feel much more healthier when traveling because yes, you may eat more, and you don't track calories that much because you're just eating out or just going to cafes. But you're moving so much more that it feels like you're just better fitness-wise, mentally wise.”
“So the flip side of that is when you get back, it's that shock of mundane. That is a jarring transition of one week climbing a mountain pass, and then the next week you're back on your laptop doing work. The contrast is huge.”