When I woke up, not too long ago, I went into the kitchen, put water on to boil, and took a shower. The start to this day, and many others like it, constitutes my morning routine – half conscious, and pleasantly foggy. No matter what time I wake up, late, early or to my alarm, this is what I do. It takes no effort and happens without thought, almost like a reaction to waking up.
The word routine has a monotonous banality to it, and repetition, in all of its own tediousness, is an unavoidable fact of any routine. But this doesn’t mean that “routine” has to be tedious, and a good one won’t be. In spite of my routine mornings, every morning is different because I take time, like I am now, to enjoy my tea, listen to the birds and process my day before moving out into it. The differences in my day to day life are incorporated into my morning, through routine reflection and enjoyment.
All of this may seem like it has nothing to do with fitness, but in fact, it underlines an essential aspect of fitness and health – establishing a good routine. In order to maintain health and fitness, having core practices be second nature, dependable, and self-reflective is absolutely essential. As my morning routine has become a reaction to waking, fitness and health should be a reaction to living.
Some people do better with highly structured routines, mapping a week of lifting out by muscle group for example. But this morning I challenge the reader to take a second look at what their routine is, and stop pushing yourself to take identical action over and over and over… and over again. A good routine takes into account what your needs are that day, whether you have an injury that begs consideration, or you’re simply too tired for an extended cardio session. Identify things in your routine that aren’t working for you, or that you don’t like doing, and find an alternative. Be open to individualizing your routine every time you start it.
Stop tuning yourself out – your mind, your music, your life – and engage with yourself in your health and fitness practices. Explore how you can achieve your goals without tedious repetition that makes you “zone out,” and stop shutting yourself down while you make monotonous repetitive movements. Incorporate awareness and reflection into your routine, and adjust your routine to your body, your mind and your life. If this practice, through frequent repetition, becomes your reaction to living, you will reap the full benefit of an easy and personally challenging health and fitness routine. But more importantly, you will finally enjoy the full potential of a healthy life.
Health & Fitness 