Most of us know that routine is important in our lives and there are many positive outcomes of having routine.
For many it is second nature, our parents taught us, therefore it’s been ingrained in our lives since birth. For others, you learned about the benefits of routine later on in life when you started making fitness a part of your daily life. And some of you are still maybe stuck and not sure how to get started or where to begin. When we stick to routines, we see improvement in mood, sleep, well-being, alertness, and function of our body.
Let’s look at a few ideas of how you can incorporate routine into your life.
If you have no clue how to start, you can begin with meeting a fitness consultant at your local fitness center. You could meet with a counselor, life coach, and or dietician. They all can help you make good choices and encourage healthy routines for your life.
Hydration – water is a necessity and it’s very important that we all drink enough each day. Pick out a water bottle that suits you, one that you like, maybe your favorite color and fill it up. When you wake up, drink a good amount before you even eat breakfast. Drink when you don’t even feel thirsty as it’s also better not to wait and whenever you see it low fill it up. Bring it with you wherever you go, so you aren’t looking for water, this also helps the environment if you have a reusable water bottle. If you work in an office, tell yourself whenever you get up that you will take the steps to go fill up your water bottle at the fountain.
Meal prepping – Meal prepping is a good idea for those that might not have the extra time in the evening to spare an hour to cook a meal. Ideas for meal prepping can look like, cutting and washing all the veggies on Sunday for the week. For protein you can cook up a bunch of chicken, lentils, beef (whichever you prefer) and have it ready a few days ahead. Crock pots are great, prepare dinner before you leave the house and it’s ready when you walk in the door at the end of the day. You can take an afternoon and prepare snacks like muffins, granola, oat bars, and nut packs. This is very helpful as it will save you money and allows you to have healthy choices on hand.
Fitness training – this will look different for everyone based on needs. Depending on your schedule, it is important to stick with a plan that works for you. If you are just getting going, aim for 3-4 days a week and do that consistently until you can add in another day or two. You can meet with a trainer at the fitness center and they can help you make a customized plan that works for you.
If you are someone that needs a visual and writing things down is your style, make a chart and check off when you do any of the above, that way you can look back to see how you are doing.
Here’s to fall routines.
MaryAnna xo
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MaryAnna Robbins CSEP-CPT, OFC RHEP – Group Exercise, Resistance Trainer, Yoga Fitness, Aqua Fitness, Pilates Mat Fitness
