Yesterday, I changed. I actually began an exercise routine I have been talking about for ages.
Change may be a process, a lifelong journey, a slow transformation—but we choose whether or not to change every day. One day at a time, in any number of small moments, we can decide to change. Just like that. As the saying goes: It’s that simple and it’s that hard.
Here’s what I learned about change yesterday:
Change Involves Some Discomfort and Inconvenience
It’s often inconvenient or initially uncomfortable. Which is why many of us tend to avoid it. Yesterday I joined the gym here on the university campus where I work. I tried to plan for every eventuality, but until you actually do the thing, it’s hard to map everything out.
Here’s an example from yesterday: One piece of my gym wardrobe turned out to be, frankly, incredibly challenging to get into (read: too damn small). I discovered this rather late in the game: in the locker room, as I got ready for my workout. I wrestled it on rather self-consciously and went out to do my walk/jog intervals anyway, although I had some trepidation I would never be able to get the item in question off. Live and learn. Today I brought in a more comfortable outfit to wear for my workout. I’m prepared! Trial and error are key to establishing a new routine, but you have to actually go out there and risk being a little uncomfortable as you’re getting started.
Change Requires Flexibility
And yes, this piece of wisdom is coming from the person who just wrote an entire post on her fondness for structure, so you can imagine how much I love being flexible.
Yesterday, I had to adapt to circumstances in order to achieve my goal, and found that I could be more flexible than I thought. When I went to the gym to sign up, my primary motivation was to obtain a permanent locker there. Most of my workouts are done outdoors, so I really just wanted a place to stash a towel and toiletries so that I can shower immediately after my routine. It was a bummer to find out there were no available lockers at my first choice location. On the verge of feeling defeated and put out, I caught myself. You are never going to do this if you wait for every single star to align in the perfect formation.
“Okay,” I told the membership coordinator. “How about at this other location?” I got a locker in a slightly less convenient building. It is a bit more of a walk, but isn’t getting some exercise the whole point of this venture? If I let this small irritation block me from my goal, I would really regret it.
The upshot? Don’t let little things throw you off course. Sometimes I freak out when things don’t go the way I planned, but yesterday I was reminded that . . . [CLICK HERE FOR REST OF POST]