The other night, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to make my workout class the following evening, I had the ambitious idea to set my alarm for 4:30 AM to get up and ride my stationary bike for an hour before work. This will be great, I thought. I’ll get my exercise out of the way first thing in the morning and won’t have to worry about it all day! By the time 4:30 rolled around, the only thought I had was to throw my alarm clock across the room. My ambitious idea had two big flaws: 1) I am not a morning person and 2) I find riding a stationary bike boring (no offense to anyone who enjoys this form of exercise. It’s just not for me.)
My idea was flawed because it didn’t fit with my lifestyle, what I enjoy, or who I am. It didn’t go with the flow of my life.
In my last blog I talked about setting SMART goals. Before setting a goal, it’s always a good idea to take time for a little personal reflection. Make sure the goal you are setting is a good fit for who you are and what you like. With a little practice, your goals will feel more like habits and less like one more thing you have to add to your endless to-do list.
Some of us are morning people, others are night owls. Some of us love working out with a group, others prefer a solitary stroll or jog through the neighborhood with only the company of our thoughts. We’re all different and there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to weight loss and wellness. We just have to find what works best for us and what fits with the flow of our lives.
So true! There’s no way I’d ever get up to exercise at 4:30 am. I am not a morning person as well. It is very important to make sure it fits your life style.
I also have never been able to establish a morning exercise routine. Many trainers and other experts advocate morning workouts so I totally believed them and forced it into my life. Bad move. I now exercise later in the day and have been more successful in maintaining a bit of a routine.
i love this thought, it is so true. we do need to let our workouts be like a routine in or normal schedule. but something that”ll knock our day into havoc.