You don’t need to start over every Monday
By Souad Gharib, founder of FemalePT
How often have you told yourself, “I’ll start again on Monday”?
You plan your workouts, decide to change every meal and promise yourself this week will be different. Then life happens. Work runs late, the family needs you, or you miss a session. It can feel as though the whole week has gone wrong.
Lovely, one change to your plans doesn’t mean you need to throw them away.
Start with the week you actually have
Before you make a long list of goals, look at your diary. Where is there genuinely room for you?
Choose something you can realistically follow through on. That might be booking a session, preparing a simple lunch or putting your training clothes out the night before.
Give that one thing a place in your week instead of expecting yourself to find spare time later.
Make busy days easier
You don’t have to cook a completely different menu or fill every free evening with exercise. Keep a few meals you enjoy in rotation and decide what you’ll do if your plans change.
Could you move a session to another day? Prepare tomorrow’s food while making dinner? Ask for help with something that keeps taking your time?
A manageable alternative can help you keep going.
Give yourself credit for what you did
At the end of the week, notice what you followed through on. Then ask what got in the way and what would make next week easier.
You’re learning how to build a routine around your life. There will be adjustments along the way.
Choose your next small step
You don’t need to wait for a new month or another Monday. Choose one thing you can do next, and begin there.
What are you making time for this week?
