It’s all about consistency

The other day a colleague asked me an interesting question – juggling work and family, how do I maintain consistency - going to the gym and prioritizing my health and fitness goals?

This is something I see so many of my peers struggling with time and time again, and since most of us are in the same boat i.e. juggling 9-5s and families, I figured this would be a helpful topic for everyone…

Off the bat, we should accept that nothing that is associated with long-term success comes quickly.

Therefore, any health and fitness journey with a time limit attached to it on exactly when the goal must be achieved has some flaws.

Firstly, even the most conservative estimate for what is achievable is still too quick. i.e. planning to lose 10kgs in a certain timeframe - naturally - the timeframe will be sooner, because one wants to see the results much sooner!

Secondly, the results will never be visible quickly enough to you.

Let me explain…

As you progress through the weeks, after setting out on your fitness journey, the realization that it's all taking a little bit longer than you had hoped, will slowly play on your mind, and then it will only take a week of no movement towards the said goals, or a plateau, whether in fat loss or trying to get heavier weights on your lifts.

Life also happens, work may require you to work late, or you'll prioritize that school play/sports match for your bundle of joy and - you will miss a gym session.

Suppose you are travelling for work, and you end up skipping your diet (these things happen – its called life)!

What will follow is you’ll begin to realize that your goal is even further away now…and you will grind to a halt (that’s why gyms are empty again this time of the year – some people started with great enthusiasm and motivation. When the results did not come – they couldn’t quite maintain the consistency).

 By releasing yourself from the time pressure of your goals you will be more focused on the journey, more focused on the process and you may even have time to reflect and enjoy what you are doing, rather than think of the results waiting for you like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

The results WILL come, maybe not tomorrow or next week or even next month. But come they will – as long as you stay consistent!