I wanted to write about this as spring slowly sneaks up on us. Mainly because getting outside and doing things becomes a more enticing, realistic option. The air no longer hurts our faces.
Ever had a workout you used to do? Something you absolutely adored? Granted it was hard work, but it made you, your life and your well being so much better. And yet, because of circumstances it fell by the wayside?
It happens to most, if not all of us at some point.
I would argue for many of us, it’s not a symptom of laziness. Chances are life became overloaded with very real responsibilities. Extracurricular activities, no matter how good they may be for us, are sometimes a bi product extending from the luxury of available time.
Not all of us have that luxury.
Especially if you have little ones, a job, family, you’re a caretaker for someone or several, you experienced trauma, you’re going through an emotional struggle, not to mention socializing, which can sometimes feel like a job. All these things take up time and energy. They all deserve our love and attention.
Doing good things for ourselves becomes a true struggle. Carving out time to do what makes us feel sane takes deliberate effort. But when you do manage to achieve it, which is not a small task, does it ever feel so. damn. good.
I recently took up spin classes. I’d been doing cardio at my condo gym, lifting weights and keeping up with my yoga practice at home. Having spent the better part of my teens and twenties rowing in dimly lit rooms, with music blaring, having someone yell at me to go faster, my heart exploding, lactic acid surging through me, spinning wasn’t exactly high on my list of things to do.
Even so. I have to admit, it feels friggin’ amazing to push myself, experience that familiar burn and float home on an endorphin filled cloud.
Inevitably, it begs me to ask the eternal question. “Why the hell did I ever stop doing this?”
Other than the aforementioned reasons, there’s the little voice inside my head that talks me out of it. You know the one.
Now let me be clear. I’ve been working out for most of my life. Soccer and track as a kid. Rowing, running, lifting and yoga as a young adult. Even with all this, there is a moment before almost every workout where I have that internal conversation. That enticing little voice says “are you sure you want to do this?” Almost every time.
So take it from someone who challenges people at parties to push up competitions (not joking), I find working out hard to do.
Over the past few years I’ve listened to this “take it easy” voice a few times and NOT FELT AN OUNCE OF GUILT. This is major progress for an ‘over worker-outer’. A survivor of the guilt laden upbringing gifted to me by conservative Christianity. There were very legitimate times I needed rest more than I needed movement.
But there are other times I’ve had to tell this voice to quiet down. Those are usually the days where my head and heart are in pain, and the most available remedy is to move my body in order to feel better.
Working out is the best antidepressants on the market.
If there is something you used to do that has slipped out of your schedule, consider revisiting it. It doesn’t have to happen everyday. It doesn’t have to be a perfect experience. You may be rusty, and that’s okay. It just takes that one time. That one effort to make it there. It could be your tipping point. Your “why the f*ck did I stop doing this?” moment.
It’s okay to go through lulls. But please remember. Take care of yourself. You’re worth the effort.
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