How I got from exercise wannabe to actually wanting to do it!

A bit of a different post today from me- but keep reading, it's all linked with my ongoing theme in Unscramble Me of improving operational effectiveness and wellbeing in business by creating order and simplicity.

Confession time, I'm never going to be a gym bunny.

However my whole life I've been trying to exercise regularly because I'm fully aware of all the benefits it brings. And more recently with starting Unscramble Me, I've been learning about, and also talk about in a lot of the work I do, how exercise is one of the key elements to "keeping your battery full" which is the first component before you can even do any of the other stuff to achieve your goals and feel good doing it.

For the last 5 months I've been doing classes at my gym a minimum of 3 times a week consistently. They are just 30 or 45 min classes and a mix of strength or cardio. And the picture in this article is from when I went on holiday in the kids half term where I managed to get out for 3 runs as a replacement.

So what's changed? How have I stuck to it for the first time ever? I've been trying to think about that so I can share it so here are the reasons I think are key.

1. I'm now working for myself so I can shape my days as I wish. I am in control of when I work so I can fit my gym classes into my days, rather than having to go in the evening when I'm often tired from a day of work and it's easier to "not go". I would much rather do a bit of evening work at my desk having done exercise in the day... I'm working with MY rhythm.
2. I've started to be able to tell myself that it's an appointment. It's not optional. I've booked the class so I have to go. And it helps that at the gym I go to if you cancel within 4 hours you get a strike, so it helps me in moments of weakness!
3. I can now summon the thought of that feeling of how I will feel good if I go! Which is just enough to make me go even when I don't feel like it
4. I've got some friends at the same gym so we often arrange to go to the same classes - can't let them down!
5. In my head on a Sunday I'm thinking "when will I fit my 3 classes this week", it's not an after thought , it has to happen.

So I'm putting this out there in the scary knowledge that I know I can fall off the exercise wagon at any time, but for now I've been consistent since October and I'm going to try as best I can to keep it up to keep my battery full ??.

So to conclude - I would invite you to think about the “how” in your life and your world. How can you make one element of self care stick. So that’s something that will really energise you.

Whether it’s a regular walk outdoors or the introduction of some kind of other exercise into your week - there is no right or wrong, just what’s right for you.

And if you are a leader for a team at work - how can you help facilitate making this happen for your team? Because in addition to the health benefits for them as individuals, we KNOW this impacts on peoples ability to work effectively and guard against overwhelm.

One of the interactive masterclasses I run is “Habits for Wellbeing” . Its so much more than the usual "eat better, sleep better, manage your time... " . I recently ran it with an operational team at L'Oréal and ALL the responders to my feedback would recommend the workshop and it exceeded expectations for every single one of them.

My diary is booking up for the next couple of months so give me a shout via DM on LinkedIn or at [email protected] if you are looking for a guest speaker for any upcoming company / team meetings, or are thinking of a standalone workshop for your team, and we can chat through your unique situation.