If you have undertaken a fitness journey at any point in your life, or even if you’re completely brand-new to it, one thing is inevitable – there will be setbacks and slow-going. Over 25 years of being a “gym-rat”, Ive experienced countless setbacks related to life changes, difficulty with staying interested because of plateaus in progress, and frustrating low-back injuries.
There will be times where you feel so stressed out from the demands on your time and energy, that you will be tempted to say “tomorrow” when thinking about doing a workout. That thought is something I’m still familiar with to this day. But sometimes that’s okay, although if it becomes a pattern, then you need to always have a back-up plan.
Here are couple of ways you can implement a back-up plan when life throws obstacles at you for getting in to do your regular routine:
1) have a set of weights at home – kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, etc., for use when you may have only 5-10 minutes before you have to get ready for work, or for a quick and straightforward circuit session first thing when you get home, or before you make dinner. You can fit a surprising amount of exercise with only 5-10 minutes available.
2) Avoid the all-or-nothing trap at the gym. Frequently, our busy daily lives make setting aside a block of time necessary for a “real workout” feel overwhelming. Or maybe it feels too difficult to get your usual routine in. Whether this is a regular occurrence or an occasional one, it is a far better approach to have your backup plan be something like a 20-30 minute circuit routine with only a few exercises, or even just plan for one single exercise you’ll put all your focus on.
The main takeaway here is that consistency will always beat intensity over the long-term. Always do your best to stick to your committed weekly routine, but if necessary, don’t let yourself get derailed by “I’ll do it tomorrow”. Ask yourself, “what is the best use of my valuable time” each day when planning your activity.
