The gym reopened yesterday and I was first in line at 6 AM. Once exercise is in your system it becomes a habit. When the means is interrupted, then the habit can disappear.
I didn’t let it disappear. Yes, I made sure I continued some sort of exercise at home but it was not the same. No people. No equipment, even though I don’t use much equipment. Mostly no FLOW of energy at home.
The problem was that I had changed my ritual. When the gym was open, I disciplined myself to follow a specific morning ritual. That meant getting up early, writing for an hour, and then getting to the gym early. I made sure I didn’t let the “Snooze Button” grab me and I got out of bed before I had a chance to say NO to myself. Once my feet were on the floor, it was easy to get up.
And once I was in the car, the short drive to the gym was a given. Sometimes getting started could be a challenge, but the ritual demanded it.
I had discovered the importance of a morning ritual a decade ago when I went on my “back to health” kick. It was simple once I got used to it. Like I said above, get up, fix coffee, write a thousand words of journaling and brainstorming . . . then straight to the gym. I had specific plans for after the gym too so that the morning had become an easy flow of activities.
Once at the gym yesterday, I immediately got back into that flow state that only the energy from the gym provides. Yes, a good walk in nature can produce a flow state, but floor and core exercises and weights at home just aren’t the same. The gym had it’s rules for social distancing and wiping down the equipment and mats after use became its own ritual. There was a pretty good turnout for opening day.
I find that the gym energizes me, particularly in the morning, in ways that are beyond just the fitness benefits. It sets up the day.
I found it easy to get back into the flow of a morning ritual yesterday, even though it felt new again. That was day one. I’ll do the same thing tomorrow and for at least three or four days a week. The other days will be for that brisk walk in nature, or for rest and recovery.
If you don’t belong to a gym or a health club, there are a lot of options. Take a look at a some of them and try a few of the free trials that they often offer. You might just find it fun. There are a lot of widely ranging choices of gyms at all price ranges and programs. Look around and give one a try. You might just find it energizes you for your day too.
Thank you for reading.