6:15am at Flywheel Lincoln Square
I’m a routine and structure driven person. I love to plan ahead and doing the same activity on a regular basis isn’t boring to me – it’s comforting. I like to re-watch the same TV shows, eat the same breakfast, and exercise at the same time each day. Being a creature of habit has its pros and cons. On one hand, it’s easy for me to start a new routine by just committing to it on a regular basis. On the other hand, when something interrupts my routine, I have a very hard time sticking to my plan.
I like to exercise right after work at least 3 days a week (plus 1 weekend workout). I prefer to leave directly from the office and head to class so that once it’s done, it’s done. I can go out with friends or cook a nice meal at home and know that my workout is complete. When I’m on this schedule, I know exactly when I need to eat my meals and my snacks to have enough energy; it works like clockwork. But when my evening schedule conflicts with this plan, it’s a struggle for me to fit everything in.
This week, my future in-laws are in town. While I love having them here and enjoy spending time with them, we have plans every night this week and as I planned out my gym schedule I realized there was no way to fit in all of my workouts this week. I knew I’d have to improvise by working out in the morning – before the sun came up.
I won’t lie – this morning was a challenge. A 6am alarm was tough, but planning ahead was the key. I put that workout on my schedule and signed up for the class on Sunday. By the time my alarm went off today, I had no excuse.
For me, planning ahead is the best way to stick to a commitment when life gets in the way. What about you? Are you a creature of habit or do you like to vary your routine? What tricks or techniques do you use?
NonFad Yogurt 