Monday in August
August can be a tough month for gym-goers everywhere.
It’s hot and muggy, you’re probably going on vacation or taking a few days off work, going to concerts, birthday parties, hiking trips, you name it. We’re smack in the middle of one of the busiest times of year. It can be easy to let your gym habit start to slip up, with a little planning ahead, you can stick wit your gym habit and head into the fall feeling fit and strong.
Here are a few ways to keep up with the gym during this busy time of year.
Get it done
My workout sweet spot used to be 2 in the afternoon. All my coaching responsibilities are done, I had time to get some food and shift gears. Not these days though. There’s too much to do. If I don’t get my workout done earlier, around 9am lately, the likelihood of other stuff needing to happen, like mowing the lawn or picking up kids, is too high.
Not to mention it isn’t as hot.
In other words, the later I start, the harder it becomes to get started.
Stick to the Schedule
Each week on Sunday I dump all the things I’m thinking about on to paper. As part of this process, I write out when I’m going to workout each day. This is a rough draft before I actually put it in my phone as a reminder. This process helps me carve out the time I need and be efficient about when I’ll train. Especially when planning more time consuming things, like a trail run.
I schedule the rest of my day around these training windows. Plan your workouts in advance and stick to it!
Reset
I’m planning a full week off for my body this month. I’ve been training for a big day in the mountains and after that, I won’t be in any rush to get back. A week off is the best motivator. Usually after 4 or 5 days I’m itching for some movement and craving my normal routine. If you’ve got a lot on your plate this month, skipping a couple workouts won’t negatively impact you if you’re playing the long game. The key there is that you have to be playing the long game. If you’re just starting out, it isn’t the time to skip workouts, you still need to build the habit.
A little planning can go a long way in keeping up your habits. Keep up the hard work!
Justin Miner
@justinminergain
