Life happened and you’ve fallen off the wagon with your exercise routine. Try these 3 tips to help you get back on track!
It’s bound to happen. A bump in the road is going to come and knock you off your routine. Any number of things can knock us off course –a new job, a move, helping our children navigate challenges, an injury. It doesn’t make you a failure. It makes you human. What matters most is how you respond.
So what do you do when the dust has settled, you’re ready to get back in the game, but you just can’t find the motivation? Return to your firm foundation.
1. Remind yourself of who you are in Christ and affirm it.
Our identity is the root and foundation of our success. What we do and don’t do is always directly linked to what we believe about ourselves. Therefore, it’s imperative you remind yourself who you are in Christ. Any setback you face is not too big for you because Christ lives within you and he holds the victory. Speak these scriptures over yourself. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).
2. Evaluate the season you’re in.
Sometimes we struggle to start our old routines again because we’ve entered into a new season of motherhood. What worked for us once before no longer gels with the schedule we must keep with the changing needs of our family. Take some time to sit down and reflect about what is and isn’t working. Ask the Holy Spirit for help in arranging your day. Sometimes a simple shift on our schedule is all that’s needed to get back on track.
3. Go back to baby steps to create the habit first.
Contrary to the belief that it takes 21 days to form a habit, it can actually take much longer. If the habit wasn’t formed before your efforts were interrupted, it could feel daunting to start over. You could also lack the motivation. I encourage you to start small again and just focus on creating the habit and routine of exercise instead of focusing on results. Give yourself success and build your confidence by keeping the small commitment to yourself. This, in turn, will build motivation to keep going and to up your efforts.
To recap, 3 simple steps you can take today to help get your exercise routine back on track are:
- affirm your identity
- evaluate the season you are in
- go back to the basics of building the habit of exercise first.
Stay committed to your goals and don’t give up in your journey to better health and well-being, no matter what life throws your way.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9