Let’s talk about the “pause button” mentality.
You know what I mean. Life gets hectic, the holidays roll around, work piles up, and suddenly you’re thinking, “I’ll just take a break from my health and fitness routine. I’ll get back on track when things calm down.”
Sound familiar?
Here’s the hard truth: hitting that pause button is dangerous.
Why? Because life doesn’t have a pause button.
There will always be busy times, holidays, work deadlines, family commitments. Always.
And if you keep hitting pause every time life gets chaotic, you’re not really building a sustainable healthy lifestyle. You’re just getting really good at… pausing.
What we need to work on is navigating life’s ups and downs while sticking to our exercise and nutrition plan as best we can.
Is it easy? No.
Is it perfect? Never.
Is it worth it? Absolutely.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being consistent, even when circumstances are less than ideal.
Maybe you can’t do your full workout routine. That’s OK. Can you do a quick 10-minute bodyweight circuit?
Maybe you can’t prepare all your meals. That’s fine. Can you make sure to include a vegetable with whatever you’re eating?
Remember, something is always better than nothing.
By sticking with it, even in a modified way, you’re building resilience. You’re teaching yourself that your health is a priority, no matter what life throws at you.
And that is a skill that will serve you well for the rest of your life.
So the next time you’re tempted to hit that pause button, ask yourself:
“Instead of pausing, how can I adapt?”
Finding the answer to that question will be a game-changer.