My world changed on June 1st. I have new coworkers, new information, and new processes. And it's challenging more than my brain.
What I didn't expect from this change was how difficult it would be to keep up with my exercise routine. I had my daily routine down. And it got interrupted.
Life constantly challenges us. We get the flu or we struggle with an injury. We fall in love, and out of love. We get married. We have children. We move. We change jobs more than once.
But change - whether good or bad - gets to our core. And from my experience, it creates an internal struggle until we once again find our rhythm. How we handle this challenge is truly what matters.
What are the keys to success? I'm the first to admit I'm no expert on the subject, but I can share some tips I have learned from my own experience with roadblocks:
- Keep your routine as much as possible. This may be one of the most challenging things to do, but this creates some sense of normalcy in your new world.
- Don't give up on your healthy lifestyle. You need stress management now more than ever. Use exercise for that purpose alone.
- Be aware of stress eating and drinking. Food and/or alcohol are often used for comfort. If you are a stress eater or drinker, be aware of your behavior. Avoid buying foods that give you comfort, and turn to friends or family for support instead. Replace drinks at happy hour with a long walk.
- Talk with friends. Instead of opening the refrigerator, dial the phone.
- Consider trying a new form of exercise. If you've been doing boot camp for some time, maybe now is the time to try yoga on an "off" day.
- Get outdoors. Whether you like to garden, hike, bike, swim or play sports, get outside your home. The activity may help take your mind off what's bothering you, and this will keep you out of the kitchen too!
