Simplify and Stay Consistent

Let's face it, 2020 was a challenging year for a lot of people. We survived a virus, lockdowns, riots, and an election like none before it. It became common to hear people questioning everything they thought they knew or felt.

I struggled with a bout of depression last spring when I watched 30% of our clients walk away. I'm grateful for the many dedicated people who cared enough about our business to keep paying even when they didn't know when they'd be able to come back.

With few answers and little hope, it became easy to stop taking care of myself physically and mentally. I began waking up unprepared for the day like I was a teenager again. I started staying up later and checking the news too much. During one memorable workout, I found myself wondering what the point was when millions of people were losing everything they'd worked to build.

Thankfully, my depression only lasted a few weeks. We started the grocery drive, which gave me purpose. It felt great to help those in need, and building my schedule around the food drive, in addition to the clients I continued to train, provided much-needed structure to my day. Eventually, I realized that taking care of myself was something I could still control.

I went on a media fast, and I began spending more time with my family. I took my dog for frequent walks, and I meditated. I committed to clean eating and did not budge on my exercise schedule. When I felt down, I reminded myself how lucky I was that everyone in my inner circle was healthy. When the world's problems seemed too big, I focused on what I could control in my own life.

During the last few months, people have increasingly asked for help with starting or rejoining a self-care program. The most common pieces of advice I give:

SIMPLIFY AND BE CONSISTENT

It's important to ease into any fitness routine. Don't worry about being underwhelmed with the amount of exercise you do. Instead, prioritize consistency. If you believe you need to exercise 5-7 days a week but struggle to get started, try aiming for just two days. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Start small and build a routine you can stick with every week. Being consistent is more important than chasing the perfect but unrealistic exercise routine.

I recently chatted with a client who had previously struggled to maintain a consistent workout schedule before relocating to Omaha. An executive with a demanding schedule, he used to put five workouts per week on his calendar, but he only managed to complete one or two, only averaging 50 workouts per year. With a family and busy travel commitments, he was overwhelmed by his workout schedule and found himself repeatedly failing to measure up to his own expectations.

With a lack of motivation and a fitness routine that didn't mesh with his life, he needed a better way. I helped him adjust his workout expectations to what would work within his busy schedule, and he was able to maintain consistency and stay motivated. He's been working out with us for several years now, and he's averaged 150 workouts per year. He lost 30 pounds, and his health has vastly improved.