Breaking Routines

“Sometimes, a break from your routine is the very thing you need.”

My summer workout schedule has been all over the place. During the school year, my schedule guaranteed I’d be out the door by 7:15am. After dropping off the kids, I would head straight to the gym, and I didn’t have to think about it, because it was simply routine. Now that summer’s here, my mornings are slower, and all the routines are out the window. However, this lack of structure has made me come to some realizations about my exercise regimen.

First of all, my body absolutely needs these workouts. Even if I go only a few days without exercise, I can feel the negative effects. Instead of viewing workouts as a chore or punishment, I like to treat them as fuel and nourishment for my body. I’ve reached a point where I actually enjoy working out, and constant movement makes me sleep better at night and improves my overall mood.

Secondly, I’m working toward a more well rounded exercise regimen with more variety. When I first purchased my Fitbit, it was instrumental in rekindling my interest in running and helped motivate me to move more. As time passed, my exercise became more about quantity (steps) rather than quality and variety. I’ve got the cardio and running down, but I’m lacking strength training (I'm toying around with the idea of getting a personal trainer to help me with this). Trying new classes at the gym would be another great way to mix up my routine and maybe, just maybe I’ll jump on the pilates train. I have also gotten back into a regular yoga practice which I find is essential to recovery after long runs and also helps with my overall mood. 

Do you often break your exercise routines? How do you add variety to your workouts? Any recommendations for some fun at home workouts that you love?