I have recently started some new exercise habits.  I had gotten in a rut rut since Covid as my regular routine of working out at the YMCA wasn’t happening.  So I hired a trainer for 30 minutes two days a week on zoom, and I started walking 30 minutes every morning, combining it with listening to a favorite podcast.  Walking in the morning has gotten me out of the house early before the heat hits,  and paying for the trainer means I will do it.  Doing both got me out of the rut I was in of just waiting until it felt safer to go back to the Y.

Nowadays everyone is spending more time at home. And when the days seem to blur together, it’s not too late to break the cycle and start a new habit or routine. Maybe now is the best time to get out of the rut and do something for your physical and mental health. Here are a few practical tips on how you can start.

Find the source of your rut.

Not all ruts are the same, and they come from different places depending on your perspective. There could be goals you want to achieve but are not pursuing. There could be discontentment in particular aspects of your life, whether it is your job, relationships, diet, or fitness. Nail down for yourself what exactly is the source of your rut and you can start addressing it there.

Have a plan and keep it simple.

Most of the time, we get stuck in a rut because we don’t have any direction for getting out of it. This can change when you make a plan of exactly what you want to do. Give yourself a baseline to start on, like video-chatting with a friend at least once a week or incorporating 30 minutes of exercise some time in your week. Whatever it is, keep your plan simple so that you’re able to stick to it and build upon it as time progresses.

Don’t be a perfectionist.

Starting a new routine and keeping to it can be tough, so don’t be discouraged if you have a slow start or deviate from your plan a little bit. Getting into new habits takes time, but getting out of the rut makes it worth it. Remember the source of your rut, the plan that you made, and the reasons why this new routine is good for you.

Change things up.

Starting a new routine doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do the same thing all the time! Change it up every now and then. If your goal is to have more exercise, try taking your workouts outdoors. If you want to read more, try a new genre. If you enjoy hiking, find a place you haven’t visited before. Be creative with your routine so that it always feels new.

Keep up the momentum.

After you’ve established one new routine for yourself, you don’t have to stop there. When you get yourself out of the rut, the hardest part is already done. Now you can explore other goals and aspirations you have for yourself.

Let these tips motivate you to beat the stay-at-home blues and start something new. We’re rooting for you!

Part of this post How to Get Out of a Rut and Into a New Routine appeared first on Shaklee Corporation.