Have you started a workout program only to have it derailed when life gets busy or tough? Friends, I’m here to tell you: You.Can.Do.This. YOU are strong. See, strength isn’t about being the fastest or running the farthest. Strength is about showing up for your commitments to yourself consistently & with a positive attitude.
Big, bodacious goals are great. But…did you know there is a LOT of success achieved when reaching 80% of your goals? You see, it’s not about perfection and 100% day in, day out. It’s about the consistency of effort. Consistency is arguably the most important component when working to accomplish goals, in or out of the gym. Without consistency, efforts can be thwarted and forming habits can be more challenging.
If you find yourself struggling to stay on track, check out the strategies below to help with your health and fitness goal success:
Remember your why. Whether you’re prepping for the next competition, trying to get healthy, learning a new skill, or just trying to live life fuller, remember why you are trying to workout. Find your why, write it down, and reference it often!
Something is better than nothing. Have you ever skipped the gym because you couldn’t finish your workout? It is always better to do something than nothing at all. When you do something, you begin to develop a habit/routine that improves your health. If you walked instead of working out intensely, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you did something.
Find an activity you enjoy that keeps your body moving whether it is going on a walk, riding a bike, playing a game of soccer or basketball, practicing handstands (a work in progress for me), or whatever. Just do it.
The key is not to prioritize your schedule but to schedule your priorities. Let’s be honest, life can get busy and hectic and crazy. Make taking care of yourself a priority so you can take care of others. When you have the most energy in the day, so do your best to work out then. Schedule it. Pay attention when you hear yourself say, “I don’t have time” because what you are really saying is that “It’s not important enough”. Schedule your priorities.
Listen to your body. Follow your body’s cues and modify your workouts accordingly. Instead of doing your full workout, you can modify weights or the number of sets — or even do some mobility/stretching. Not only is it ok, but it’s also smart to listen to your body and adjust.
Imagine how you will feel after your workout (or a week or month or year)! Our bodies are meant to move and a body in motion stays in motion. Visualizing the “after” can help.
Find community and accountability. Surround yourself with others who are seeking similar actions. This is huge for me. I am SO grateful to my fitness friends for our mutual motivation & learnings shared over the years.
Create a plan with SMART goals. Write them down, post them where you can see them, and then share them with your friends and family. There are many ways to set goals and track success – experiment and find what works for you. (See my blog posts on goal setting.)
I hope these strategies help you get and stay on track with your workouts!
Remember:
- No one is perfect
- Everyone’s “strong” looks different, and
- Consistency has a bigger impact than anything
Consistency is more powerful than strength and speed and it will take you further than stamina and talent in this journey.
So, you got this. YOU are strong. And yes, you can!
As always, so thankful for your time for reading.
