Your "Break" Is Leading To The Breakdown
There is no Progress without Perseverance. Your little ones look up to you- how are you going to help them stay Steadfast if you need a break when the going gets tough?
One thing I hear occasionally from clients is that they need to āpauseā their fitness and nutrition program. Maybe they're in the midst of a busy time at work. Maybe they're consumed with a home renovation project. Maybe they're starting to travel a little more again. Or perhaps they're overwhelmed with everything going on in their life.
There's a problem with this approach: That āPauseā is ruining your fitness progress.
You see, the obligations never stop. Schedules never settle down. And by taking a break when things get rough or busy, the only skill you're building is the skill of stopping.
In my experience, it's much better to learn and develop the skills needed to continue making SOME progress during busy, stressful times instead of stopping altogether and starting over again in a few weeks ā¦ or months ā¦ or never. How can you do this?
Time Management: Plan your next day, including all standing appointments that are non-negotiable, the night before. A written calendar or planner is best.
Forget Perfection: If you look at every episode of not making it to the gym or failing to prep healthy food as a failure, that's going to reinforce negative beliefs in your mind ... and your mind is extremely powerful. It'll allow you to sabotage your progress if you let it.
A Little Is Better Than Nothing: Every meal or snack could be a little bit better. Strive for perfection, and you're doomed to failure. If you can't make it to the gym for a workout, take 15-20 minutes and get some movement in at home.
(Speaking of which, isnāt this one of the most useful things we learned during the pandemic that we can succeed with exercise in ways we never thought of before?)
You'll be amazed at what a difference these small victories make over time. In pursuing our health and fitness goals, being perfect should never be the goal. Being a little bit better --and doing it consistently -- is enough.
But one thing thatās not going to help you achieve the body and health that you want is hitting when things get challenging. Life goes on, and we have to learn to go on with it. And you have little ones at home learning from you! If you are feeling like giving up, that everything you are doing is not working, and that overwhelm is your only companion, then first catch your breath... Try this right now- Take a 4 second inhale through your nose, then an 8 second exhale through your mouth like this:
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Repeat this 5 times. Feel better? That's just one of the stress management techniques we use in my Coaching programs to get you back on track ASAP. And to find out how we can get you set up for success in a way that's manageable for your life then book a strategy session with me so we can you headed in the right direction.
No more Pauses. No more breaks. Take action now.
For my fellow Dads who dare to get better, Coach Ryan Collins
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