Life is full of ups and downs that disrupt your exercise and health routines.
One week, you’re hitting the gym and eating clean.
Then work gets busy, family obligations pile up, or a crisis hits. Your fitness regimen gets pushed aside as you struggle to manage the urgentmatters.
What does this mean for your health and wellbeing when life gets in the way?
It’s normal for exercise to be less of a priority when unexpected difficulties arise.
First off: It’s Okay to Take a Break.
Let’s address this now.
When life gets hectic, we’re often made to feel guilty for neglecting exercise and diet.
Taking a short break isn’ta disaster.
We need to give ourselves permission to pause our routines to manage stress and regulate our emotions during challenging times.
It’s self-care, not something to punish ourselves for.
Being Consistent Makes a Week Off Less Painful.
If you’ve already been incorporating exercise in your day to day life, then a short break doesn’t matter.
With consistent year-round exercise, a week off during a busy or stressful period won’t ruin your progress.
In the grand scheme, a week is just a blip compared to the cumulative effects of regular exercise over months or years.
It’s another reason to focus on frequent movement over intensity.
Keep moving whenever you can, and don’t let a short break discourage you from getting back on track.
Acknowledge Your Emotions about Health and Exercise
When things get tough and we skip exercise or break habits, we tend to be hard on ourselves.
Self-criticism leads to guilt, shame, and disappointment, creating a harmful cycle that makes it challenging to get back on track with our health goals.
Recognize that you’re already experiencing challenges in other areas of your life.
Being harsh on yourself and adding the stress of negative self-talk about your health will exacerbate the situation.
Cultivating self-compassion is a valuable skill for overall well-being and long-term health success.
Finally, Restart with “Stupid Small” Exercises
This is my preferred strategy whenever I need to recover after a setback.
I’ll do 5-minute exercises or 10-minute workouts, keeping them short and manageable.
At the most, I will commit to a 30-minute session, which includes getting ready and setting up.
Remember: Start small and build momentum gradually.
There’s no shame in doing these little things; they lay the foundation for recovery.
In fact, I respect someone who does 5-minute workouts during tough times.
It shows their determination to prioritize their health despite challenges.