I’ve been noticing some changes in people’s fitness routines since the start of this pandemic. Ironically, some people who were on top of their fitness game have found themselves falling off the wagon while others who weren’t active at all pre-COVID-19, have found all kinds of newfound motivation! Isn’t that crazy?
Well, it’s true for a lot of reasons. For the previously motivated, they lost access to their gyms, their routines were shaken, and they’ve been fighting to get back on the horse. For the newly motivated, they weren’t coming from a routine. They’ve found a newfound love for being in the outdoors and have found the time to actually commit.
No matter which category you fall in (or if you fall somewhere in between), it’s got me thinking about how to sustain fitness for the long haul. How does someone make fitness a part of their lifestyle? How do we make it more than just a goal, but a part of our everyday lives?
Well, you’ve got to follow the 3’s…
- Start Small
Whether you were previously experienced and have fallen off the motivation train or you’re new to fitness, it’s so crucial that you start back small! You cannot dive in headfirst without sustaining an injury or completely burning yourself out.
If you’re in it for the long haul, start slow and build up your fitness over time! Think tortoise and the hare!
- Start Slow
Speaking of the tortoise and the hare, it’s also important to start slow! Again, you don’t want to burnout like the hare in that very famous folk tale. Of course the hare is faster, but he gets tired and gives up, which is the complete opposite of what you want with your fitness journey!
Start slow and start with incorporating fitness in fun ways. If you want to workout 2-3 times a week, slowly add in some afternoon walks. Don’t overextend yourself and exhaust yourself or you’ll dread it.
- Stay Steady
Once you’ve started small and started slow, you want to stay steady, working fitness into your life where it fits naturally. The last thing you want is to be a weekend warrior where you go crazy with fitness on the weekends and then do nothing the rest of the week because you’re so exhausted and burnt out.
Stay consistent with your goals, and you’ll definitely be in it for the long haul!
It’s important to remember that it will take you a while to get where you want to go, and that’s OKAY! The whole plan of the 3 S’s is to take your time and build a foundation of fitness that will last a lifetime. So, start small, start slow, and stay steady, and you’ll be on your way to achieving all your fitness dreams!If you’re wanting to learn more about finding the motivation to get started again, be sure to check out my 7 Steps to Finding Your Motivation Again or my new mini-series called the Motivation Multiplier Method!