Routines lead to success
Sherman Rosier, Owner Fit & Functional, NSCA- CPT, PRS, CFT
mail@bradfordvillebugle.com
Now that summer is wrapping up it’s time to start preparing for success through fall and winter. During the summer life tends to be a little more disheveled which is especially true if you are a family with school aged kids. Loss of routine due to school breaks or even increased travel plays into the summer madness of staying on track with forward progress. This is also true for your wellness and fitness journey. A break in routine, even if just for one week, can spiral into months of being off course.
Summer break may be one cause but there are many life obstacles that come up and can potentially derail you. An interruption of your fitness routine is almost guaranteed to happen, but your ability to quickly get back on course is a key determining factor between long term success or short lived momentum.
Three reasons why routines are important:
First, having a routine establishes structure in your day-to-day life. Having structure can ease your mind by knowing what is to be done and when, creating organization for the week and month.
Second, routines lead to habits. This builds a wellness mindset and creates a healthy lifestyle. Getting to the level of making exercise a habit makes it harder to get derailed for any length of time. When missing your workout becomes non-negotiable you know you are at a level for long term fitness success.
Third, When you have a routine you are more productive- as long as your routine is designed to help you grow and progress in the direction you wish to go. A tip: starting your day with exercise, first thing in the morning, has been noted to increase one’s productivity level during the day. Working out in the A.M. may not work for everyone and that is okay, as long as you set a time that you know you can be consistent. Consistency is key!
Establishing a routine starts with setting goals for yourself.
Ask yourself, “What do I want to accomplish, and what are the steps that need to be taken consistently to achieve it?”
You will want to look at how you’d like your days and weeks to flow.
For example, how you plan to nourish your body with healthy foods, planned family time, scheduled time for exercise, improved sleep routine, and eliminating wasted time. After determining your goals and steps, put together a list of your daily and weekly task/activities that lead to goal achievements. Then schedule out how you want your weekly routine to look. Once this is formed, do your best to stick to it, but also be flexible when needed while staying on course.
As the summer comes to an end and life returns back to normal, look at how you can create a routine that serves you in wellness and in growth. This will not only help you but also the ones around you, be it family or workplace.
