How I Made Exercise Non-Negotiable
There was a time when I just could not keep an exercise routine going. I made the commitment to get a trainer, and then I canceled our gym appointments regularly. We had an agreed-upon time on the calendar that always seemed to work when we checked our calendars before scheduling but then as it got closer, or even the day of, there I was texting that I couldn't make it. And I wasn't going much on my own either.
Why?
At the top of the list of reasons was work. I was too busy. A late meeting popped up. I was exhausted from the day/week/travel/on-call. I had too much work to get done and a neverending stream of email. There were other reasons too. Let's face it - a fun happy hour invite can derail exercise plans! After a while, I realized that I was hardly ever getting there. I was disappointing myself and not working towards my goals. This wasn't working.
I finally realized that if I really wanted exercise and fitness to be part of my life and I wanted to feel better and see results, I needed a plan for consistency and also a new mindset. Since I have to work for a living, and there are other family and life obligations, I really had to look to myself for the solution. I was the one letting all of this get in my way. I had to start treating my exercise plans like an important appointment - one that I absolutely needed to make time for. One day, I decided to make exercise non-negotiable. That's what came to me, that's how I describe it, and that's what has stuck.
What exactly does this mean? It means there is no canceling. Moving to a different time, changing from a class to a solo run, or rescheduling days - yes - occasionally I need to do this. But there is no canceling. Rest days are good and needed but for me, its just that - a rest DAY. Non-negotiable means I am making time for my health and also my mental wellness. It means asking for flexibility in timing if I'm being asked to be somewhere or meet with someone when I'm supposed to be at the gym or in an Orange Theory class. It's asking if another night will work to go out to dinner when I get an invitation. It also means really thinking about what I'm saying yes to. It is up to me to determine what is important, and what I will make time for.
When I was a CIO and attended many conferences all over the country, I was lucky enough to learn from my colleagues and industry friends how they fit in fitness when they traveled and also while at home. It is through them that I learned to block my calendar and let others know it is protected time. In other words, it's important and I'm fitting it in, even if that means I have to say no to something else. When traveling, it could mean saying no to that extra half-hour of sleep so I can be the first in the door at a hotel gym, showing up a little late to a networking event after fitting in a half-hour run and a shower after sessions and before evening events, or calling it a night a little earlier and not staying for another round of drinks at the hotel bar. At home, this means working out a system with assistants, spouses, kids, pets, and anyone else who needs to be involved or considered to allow the protected time to stay protected.
After a while, when traveling with my team, I became known as the one most likely to be in the hotel gym at 5:30am. And I was fine with that. Did I still go out to dinner, network, spend time with my team, meet clients, or do whatever business needed to be done? Yes, I did. But I also knew how to better manage my time and politely voice when it was time for me to leave.
Always having exercise clothes when traveling is one of my top travel tips. There is no more thinking through schedules and deciding if I'd have time to workout. These clothes go in the bag, and they will be used. At home, this means having the proper clothes and other gear ready, visible, and easy to grab.
Having a variety of options is key to working out consistently. If its a particularly tough week and getting to the gym doesn't seem possible, then an early morning run or walk outside is better than nothing at all. If a hotel gym is too packed, has bad equipment or room layout, or has strange hours that don't work for business people who have to get in there very early (which drives me nuts, by the way), having a go-to workout for the room, such as yoga, bodyweight exercises, and stretching can always work. There might be a nearby trail to walk or run on too but it is always best to ask the front desk about it to make sure the outside options are safe. And if there is anything learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, having some weights and other gym equipment at home is a good idea. Working out at home, or at least having the option, cuts down on travel time to and from the gym.
I also learned to embrace small bits of time. Sometimes, that's all we have. Even if I only have 20 minutes to get on an elliptical in a hotel gym and listen to a couple podcasts, I do it. It makes me feel better, and I don't feel like I have skipped my workout.
I see many people who struggle with consistency, and I've been there. Lots of things come up, all the time, and knowing this allows us to plan for it. Coronavirus caused many to abandon their workout routines once gyms closed, which is especially unfortunate for those who just figured out what was working for them. Others obsessed about how to get weights, benches, Peloton bikes, rowers, and other equipment in place so they could keep going. This is a prime example where having more than one option paid off. I was somewhat prepared for this, as I could run outside, do yoga videos, and bike around my neighborhood, but I struggled with the lack of weights at home.
Making exercising non-negotiable and having that shift in mindset has worked for me, and I hope it works for anyone else struggling with working out consistently. I decided to make myself a priority, and I hope you do too!