Nonetheless the reason I am telling you this is not because I want to illicit any kind of sympathy, but rather exactly explain why I am struggling to get back into any kind of routine where I am habitually working out at least every other day. Not only is my personal workout routine out of sync but also the feel and daily to-dos of my well-being. My endurance is in the bag and I feel like I am a fat potato sack.
The thing about habits is the simple fact that once they are broken it is difficult to regain them. Great example: Athos, our 1.5 year old beagle. He is potty trained, however as of the recent weeks he also got out of his routine because we are changing a few things. Here is why. He would always go to the door and knock the keys. That jingle meant it was time for him to potty. We are now changing that and rather than him telling us when it is time to go potty we are creating a new routine for both dogs where we habitually go out at the exact same times every single day, seven days a week. Yara, whom we had difficulty training now actually gets it after just a week and a half, however Athos, as his old routine has been broken, now struggles to get back into sync with our new routine. A matter of time and consistency. And this applies to good and bad habits. The same goes for trust, once you break it, those wounds take time to heal.
I hate routine over a period of time, however I do enjoy good habits and notice that if they are an integral part of my daily life, than I tend to carry them out without hesitation or that inner struggle because they are “fun.” Having these good habits keeps me sane and allows me to balance both work and life in a way that makes sense to me. Its a thing of victory and success.
I have found that even the small habits have helped me get more done and feel better while at it:
1. Waking up at 6am.
2. Eating a good breakfast every morning. (This is something I am really trying to get into at the moment. I have always neglected breakfast even at the peaks of my athletic career.)
3. Working out at least every other day.
4. Putting technology aside to spend time with the family.
Those are just a few of the things that I commit to on a daily basis and when these habits become such a part of my life, I actually feel kind of lost without them. I always thought that the flexibility in my day to day is something I wanted until I had really good habits and stuck to them.
Why habits matter to me:
1. It focuses my mind to work to the best of my capability.
2. It helps me prioritize those things that are important and/or urgent.
3. I optimize my day to day through the consistent habits/routines/processes.
Best of all, the more good habits I have the less time I have for those bad ones – sitting on the couch and watching TV. What are your good habits? What do you do on a daily basis to help you cope with the various challenges that get flung your way?
