What is motivating your change?
Many of us are back in the swing of things now that it is fall. This is a time where people set new health goals or get back into a fitness routine. All too often, these goals are influenced by external factors like societal norms (i.e. working out for aesthetic reasons) that are not always supportive of our overall mental, physical, and emotional health. Taking time to check in with yourself to consider what may be motivating your desire for change can help your decisions become more personal, meaningful, and healthier overall.
The importance of listening to your body
“Doing it right” at the gym can mean following an expertly prescribed workout that is appropriate to your goals—however, this cannot discount the feedback that your body gives you. The trainers at Totum care just as much about supporting you in your connectedness with your body as they do about your fitness goals. Checking in with how your body is feeling and communicating that to your trainer is essential to supporting your health. Our trainers are equipped to modify your workouts on the fly in order to best support you on a daily basis.
Take the time to notice all the changes
We often get down on ourselves early on when we don’t notice change. But sometimes changes are occurring and we do not notice them. Noticing and feeling the change is very important to keep our motivation up. Setting aside small amounts of time each day or week to simply notice and reflect upon change can help this process—and your regimen.
What are realistic goals?
Wouldn’t it be great if this were an easy question to answer? In order to know what a realistic goal is, you might have to look in the mirror at your current life. For some people, a long-term goal may be realistic, and for others smaller and more immediate goals may be what works. It may also be somewhere in the middle. What is important is being open to some flexibility. Life can be unpredictable, so practicing self-compassion when setting and monitoring goals is key. Goals need to be individualized and flexible in order to be successful.
Part of setting goals is making a manageable plan. Once you’ve made your decision, commit to following your plan. Busy schedules, illness, and travel will interfere. From time to time, you may have an extended break. The secret to your own success is getting right back into your game and returning to the plan. Workouts should be scheduled in your day with the same importance as any other appointment. Punch your workout card week in, week out, and even a modest plan will yield impressive results. No matter the goal, the points above will always lead to better, more consistent, and more sustainable results.