It has become routine

We’ve all been there. Something that was once new and exciting has become just routine. Ho-hum. Same old, same old. But that word has another side to it. A positive side. For instance, if we want to add a consistent, healthy habit into our life, making it part of a regular routine is a valid and effective way. That offers a solid dependable path to self-improvement.

Health, physically, is the ability to function without disease, pain or injury. Health is a good condition. But Fitness is even better. Fitness is cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance, muscular strength, functional and comfortable joint range of motion, a well-balanced muscle-to-fat ratio, bone density, agility, posture and balance. Fitness is a process, not an achievable goal. Like a good relationship, it’s something we continuously, consistently work on. It’s sustainable lifestyle choices loaded with personal benefits: feeling better, moving better and having more daily energy.

OK, fitness sounds great. But how do we actually get there? Glad you asked. Let’s start with the fact that when we’re doing something we fully enjoy, we lose track of time, we’re present, we’re solo-tasking, not distracted while multi-tasking, we’re effortlessly focused. There’s a de-emphasis on willpower or self-discipline or even on effort. We’re flowing, enjoying.

OK, again, sounds great but how about when we want to add something that’s not a “flowing” addition? Let’s make it part of a routine.

Routines are about personal priorities. We’re all different, so please substitute your healthy, beneficial additions freely to my examples. What our routines will have in common is they should be consistent, dependable, rhythmic even. We don’t think about whether or not to do them; like Nike says: Just Do It.

Mornings are when we start. Think about yours. Making coffee, getting your family moving, preparing for your day, breaking the intermittent fast you’ve been implementing since you read that article so we’ll call that breakfast, shower, getting dressed, etc. Most of that kind of stuff is done by habit in a certain order as part of our daily routine.

Now add an activity at a personally comfortable time in your morning. Don’t have a comfortable time? Well, if this is something that’ll both benefit you and is enjoyable, weigh it against whatever your evening lack-of-activity is and at least consider going to bed/getting up a bit earlier. Find your rhythm, schedule it in and mindlessly follow it every morning for a month or so and it’ll become well, routine.

For example, after a big glass of hydrating water, get yourself outside. Around sunrise. Walk at any pace you want with standing-tall posture. When you get back home, maybe have a healthy protein shake (do your homework on what to put in it) and a moment (or 20) to relax and daydream. If that sounds unrealistic, rearrange your priorities. As I said, it’ll take just about one month to adapt to a new, more pleasant and beneficial routine of hydration, sunlight, fresh air and a more relaxing way to start your day. All while adding an easy enjoyable activity.

I know some of you are mentally listing why you can’t realistically start your version of my suggestion. I agree with you. But for those of you who are more can-do about your own short, short life, we agree that, of course, you can.