Coffee Talk #228: Get Moving this Season

It’s SPRING INTO ACTION time at FWA and I want to help you get moving this season.

Today’s topic: Move your Body

It’s SPRING! This season is full of hope, promise, sunshine, and more. I love brighter colors, cleaning spaces, more light, and the opportunity to grow. I love feeling refreshed and renewed in all aspects of life, including movement.

This time of year always gets me thinking about dusting off the routine. I love a good routine, but I also love to assess and tweak it as needed. Out with the old and in with the fresh!

In case you need a little extra spring in your step, I’ve compiled my top list of ways to get moving this season.

1. Don’t let PERFECT be the enemy of STARTING.

You’re not going to nail the workout on the first try. One of my least favorite things is expectations of perfection. I have those beliefs, too, but have learned that fitness is a practice. You get better by doing it.

We’re all a beginner at some point, and I like to stay fresh by trying new things, to remind myself that many of my clients are making such a huge leap in taking that first step to come to class, to join a group, or to even reach out and ask a question. It’s going to be messy, get messier, and then it’s going to be good. Real good. Fight through the messy middle and you’ll get where you want to be with fitness.

2. Start with 5 minutes.

I’m loving the vibe of my 14-day virtual groups with 5-minute workouts. Just 5 minutes! You can really make such a difference in your day, mindset, and outlook with just 5 minutes of focused work. And eventually, 5 minutes can lead to 10, to 20, and before you know it, you’re rockin’ 60 minute workouts if that’s your jam.

3. Make it entertaining.

Fitness should be fun. It should bring energy, it should be uplifting. I’m not saying every class will be a magic show, but I work really hard to keep things fresh and to make sessions super fun. Even though the best workouts are the ones you will do (and the consistent kind), find a way to make it entertaining. Jazz up your music, invite a pal to work with you, make a game of it with your dog or kid – if it’s not fun, you’ll drop it.

4. One thing at a time.

I love goals. I love to help others create and crush their goals. But you will find yourself quitting super quick if you try too much at once. Choose one thing, focus your energy on that, and then move to the next one when you are ready. But trying to add a workout every day, eat vegetables, drink water, and get great sleep all at once will become frustrating if it’s not already your practice. Choose one thing. Then choose another.

5. Schedule your workouts.

This is the secret sauce. For a dentist appointment or a meeting with your accountant, you might request time off work, or you plan your day around these important check-ups. Do the same for fitness.

Literally add it to your calendar (which is one of the reasons I started using calendly for classes – since it lets you add your classes right to the calendar). Treat your workouts like an appointment that you cannot miss. You deserve this.

6. Start with walking.

Not sure which workout is best for you? Start simple. Get outside and walk. Try 10 minutes, then slowly increase it a few minutes each day until you reach the desired length (aim for 30 min/day eventually). Walking is free, it can be as high or low impact as you’d like, and you can even do it with friends or family.

I live for my daily walks with my dog, my pod-and-walk routine, and my walking dates with friends. Walking will boost your mood, it can give you the opportunity to spend time outside, and you can make it as short or long as you’d like. It’s even something you can do indoors if necessary.

7. Consistency is everything.

If there’s one thing you take away from this list, let it be that consistency is key. In order to make changes in your life, you have to change the daily routine. You have to write it down and make it happen every single day.