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I get a lot of, “you must workout all the time!”
This makes me laugh even thinking about it.
For one thing, coaching a class or running a gym is the furthest thing from a workout. It's basically a lot of watching people's knees when they squat, programming workouts, emailing people, and scheduling sessions. It's a lot of running to restock toilet paper, dry erase pens, repairing rowers, and blowing the floors out to clear all the hair, dust, and lint. Sometimes, since the gym already occupies almost every waking moment and every brain cell in my cortex, if I have free time there's nowhere I would like to be LESS than at the gym working out.
Yes there was a time when I was excited about pushing the level at which I could compete. I would do heavy sets of backsquats at night. I would do online qualifier competitions and re-do workouts three or four times to shave seconds off my score. I would do Oly Complexes, and practice skills like free standing handstand pushups, then do nauseating conditioning burpee-EMOMs...by myself. That all has gradually changed as I focus more and more on the gym itself, my own fitness takes a back seat.
I am lucky that I get to have the gym baked into my lifestyle more than other folks, but I struggle with the same things. I don't have perfect consistency, or always have structured ideas for improvement. I get hit with feelings of overwhelm, stress, and like I'm already drowning in responsibilities. Sometimes a workout feels impossible. Also I have a hell of a sweet tooth.
When that happens I try to step back, connect to what's real in the moment. Come back to first principles. When competing was the goal, it made sense to have a higher level of discipline and to push harder. But these days the goal is more complicated. Stay fit but also have a social life. Be able to save money but also not be consumed by email. Focus and have a good work ethic, but also have time for reflection and personal growth.
I don't workout all the time, and I don't always have a clear idea of my goals, but I'll tell you I know it starts with movement. Does it make sense that I did the WOD on Monday and now I'm walking in to the 7am Wednesday Power Hour with no plan? No. Who cares? Maybe I'll do this workout barefoot. Maybe I'll turn it into a steady state workout because i'm not feeling up for a sprint? Maybe my shoulder hurts...so i'll work in some stretches, roll out, and load up one of the other movements. I may not do the workout exactly as it's written, but I know I'll come away having done something and i'll be further on the road to my goal...whatever that is.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, I get it. The world keeps throwing things at you and adding more weights onto your shoulders. You don't want a heavy barbell on your back, you're already carrying tension in your neck from the damn news. You don't need loud music, you're craving peace and quiet.
You're not alone. Society is not set up for wellness. There are endless opportunites for over-commitment. Stress is rewarded. Processed food is easy and cheap, and movement is rare - and I say that as a gym owner who has infinite access to the gym and still struggles.
Whatever that goal is, it could be sport and longevity for life. It could be a race, or to lose 10lbs, or to GAIN 10lbs. Your day today doesn't have to be performed at any heroic level. It just has to be yours. Your workout.Your time. Your mind. Your body.
And if the next step isn't clear, I can still tell you I'll bet it starts with movement.
Best,
Josh