Mastering consistency: The art of sticking with a consistent training routine through life’s ups and downs
Explore the vital role of maintaining a consistent training routine, even amidst life’s myriad changes and challenges. As individuals evolve and circumstances shift, the discipline of sticking to a training plan becomes paramount.
Many people have written about how sticking to a training schedule is important to achieve results i.e. that consistency is key. We have all fallen by the wayside because life and our ‘motivation’ can waver and/or get in the way. After moving places, jobs and/or your routine and movement patterns your raison d’etre may not be the same. How do you make sure that you maintain the discipline that you established before to ensure you hit those training goals day-in, day-out?
People change and are a reflection of their past, present and future. Context matters not just in terms of who you are but also who you aspire and want to be. So when your context changes – be it on vacation or due to a move or upheaval – it may be difficult to stick to the plans that you had or for them to take on a different meaning.
I always knew that giving up my corporate job after 13 years at the same company would be difficult and take away a lot of my identity even though it would give me the opportunity to pursue my running/fitness goals. The same was true during pregnancy and after having my son when I was no longer a serial marathon-runner and my priorities shifted taking me a long time to find that old ‘me’ again that ran at least a marathon a month! Alongside, my old identify disintegrated and who I was and what I stood for became much less clear and much more fluid.
I think the same happens on a holiday when everything that you are used to – your usual framework – shifts and reconciling a schedule, including a training schedule, can be difficult at times.
So now that I am here, in running paradise, with time on my hands (at least ostensibly) to pursue my running/fitness goals, I somehow struggle to find my ‘why’ at this very moment. But this is hardly surprising.
For now, I will try to find my refuge in the targets that I had set – accepting that set-backs like my 3rd enforced rest-day in less than 7 days – are part and parcel of coping and making progress. I will try and simply hit each day’s target and seek to enjoy the training, each day. Enjoying the process rather than validating the big picture. Maybe I will find some pieces of myself in that one day soon.
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