One of the best things about being a fitness professional is getting feedback from clients about how much better they feel after a workout, how much fun they have in class and why they keep coming every week. When people sign up for classes or training, we talk about what they want to get out of their time at the Hub. In my experience, people are most successful at reaching their goal if they find something that they really like and can build upon, without overdoing it or losing interest. This looks different for everyone, but the key is consistency.
Take some time now to evaluate your fitness and health goals. Are you training for an event? Trying to lose some weight and strengthen your body before surgery (or to prevent surgery)? Maybe you are perfectly happy with your health, but you’ve had a life change such as retirement, pregnancy, school or work schedule, and you want to preempt any unhealthy habits that form as a result of routine changes.
Wherever you are in your life, it is important to cultivate a healthy state of mind and body. Most important is to understand the connection between the two. A healthy diet and regular exercise can be undermined by stress, fatigue, depression or anxiety, leading to further anxiety, disappointment and even exhaustion.
Goal-setting can follow the SMART principle: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Bound, but your goals should include taking time to check in with your mental health. If you find that you are feeling guilty because you haven’t made it to the gym, ask yourself if there are other ways you could be getting the physical activity that you need that would be easier to incorporate into your schedule.
If you have trouble setting aside time to exercise, find a workout partner and commit to certain days and times to meet up at the park or the gym, or find a local class and start going once or twice a week. If you’re feeling stuck in a rut, change it up with something that challenges you in a different way like painting, music, dancing, hiking, reading, writing, volunteering, or anything that you’ve wanted to try but keep putting off.
Taking time to do something that you truly enjoy or to try something new will help revitalize your spirits and get you back in touch with your creative side and back on track with your physical wellbeing.
