We have all just recently lived through a pandemic, a worldwide lockdown, and a global crisis.
These are crazy circumstances we’ve all gone through and it has been difficult to manage everything that’s been thrown our way. It’s quite reasonable to have slipped a little on our personal fitness goals and miss a workout here and there. Maybe you’ve even ditched the diet you were on and started eating a few treats in the evenings.
Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s okay and to give yourself a break. It’s understandable that it’s tough to stay motivated when things have been so strange around the world.
Everything that has happened is in the past and you can’t change it, but you can get things back on track. Here’s a 5 step guide to recharge your fitness goals and start seeing progress again:
(1) Review your workout routine
Sit down and take a look at your most recent workout routine. Was it working? Was it enjoyable? Could it be better? Could it be more effective?
Write down any thoughts you have and get it to a point where you’re happy with it. You should be confident in how effective it will be for your personal fitness goals and the benefits. You also want to enjoy your workouts and not dread going to the gym every day.
(2) Meet with a personal trainer
If you’re serious about your personal fitness goals and want to make sure you’re on the right track, there’s no better time to meet with a personal trainer. They can take a look at your workout routine, discuss your personal goals, and make sure you are doing the right things in order to be successful and not waste your time.
Personal trainers are educated to help you find the right fitness path and can be worth the extra money they cost.
(3) Bring it back to the basics
Fitness can become very complicated, especially in 2020. There are new technologies, new pieces of equipment, and new trends to learn about – and things are constantly changing.
Take things all the way back and eliminate all the fancy advancements to go back to the most basic workout regime possible. Replace your fancy machine with a weight bench and bask in the simplicity of working out again.
(4) Start slow
Don’t just dive back into what you were doing before the pandemic hit. Dial things back and just start slow as a way to get back into things.
Your body will be able adjust to getting back in the gym and can have a chance to prepare for any changes you made to your workout routine.
Going too intense in the beginning could cause you to hurt yourself and impede any progress you’re preparing to make. Just start slow and pick up the pace as you’re comfortable.
(5) Infuse some new practices into your routine
As I mentioned above, the fitness industry is constantly changing and evolving. While it can be effective to bring things back to the basics as far as the equipment you use, it can also be helpful to infuse some new self-care practices into your life.
Yoga, meditation, and tai chi are more popular than ever and can really enhance your life in many different ways. It can impact your physical health, as well as your mental health, and help you eliminate things like stress and anxiety, which many of us have been feeling lately.
Bottom line: It’s time to get back at it!
Things are returning to normal, our gyms are opening back up, and we can worry a little less about the risks. While there’s nothing wrong with letting yourself take a little break from your workout routine, there also comes a time for you to get back at it.
Use this reintroduction as a way to evaluate what you are doing and make sure you’re being as effective as possible. It’s time to look at your goals and achieve them!
Darcy Cudmore
Darcy Cudmore is a Canadian Journalism graduate who enjoys writing content to help others improve their life. He loves working out, studying new fitness trends, and sharing everything he learns in new content. When he’s not working and writing, you can find him with a Stephen King novel in his hands while he cheers on the Ottawa Senators.