We have to be OK with half-assing "wellness" sometimes

Sometimes we cling with white knuckles to a state of consistency in how we move, how we eat, our “wellness” routines, etc. only to realize we must sometimes let go and cede a bit of control.

I’ve felt that if I can’t get to an hour-long workout class because I have 4 meetings, I might as well melt into the couch and be immobile all day. Or if it’s already past 11:30 p.m., I might as well make it an all-nighter. I have got to be OK with half-assing some things.

Believe yourself: A wise therapist I know said “Whether or not you believe your stress is justified, it is real, and it’s affecting your health. Beating yourself up isn’t going to make it go away.” Accept that stress from work, personal projects, news and more affect you.

It's ok: It's important to accept a dialed-down intensity workout or wiggle room in the routine. You might not be able to show up for other life things, and go as hard as possible in the gym, and only eat nutritious meals lest you feel you’ve lost total control of your life.

Ask yourself: Am I measuring my “success” against a sometimes-unattainable ideal state? Is it really half-assing it in the gym or am I just measuring myself against my best days? As a fitness instructor, I tell people showing up at all is just fine sometimes.

Looks vs. Health: Being well-rested and well-nourished, feeling less stiff/stressed from exercise doesn't require looking a certain way to feel those benefits. Divest from the notion that attaining “beauty” equals a truly more satisfying or peaceful life. 

Strive for that happy medium: Feel good in your body without being obsessed with it, without feeling like other things aren’t as good if your body isn’t in some imagined peak condition.

Less can be more: An incredibly strong coach at my gym took this week off from working out. She recently scaled her workout plan back from five times a week to three. Since she backed off the frequency, she’s actually gotten stronger, faster, more efficient. 

Release shame: Remember when giving yourself necessary time, space and grace there is a world of difference between being a bad person versus feeling bad due to stress, sleep and other physical ailments. Remember "I am not bad, but I feel bad."

Helpful mantra: "I need to dial down the intensity to feel better about life.” Attempts to execute routines at the same level during overwhelming times identically as in calm times might not always succeed, and that’s not a failure. That’s being a human.