In life, as in college athletics, there are setbacks. Things don’t always go as planned. There are bumps in the road, busy days at work, family issues, and unforeseen health problems. Quite often, life makes its own schedule and forces one to follow it. Here are a few tips to overcome setbacks and get back to your healthy habits.
Invoke the Wake-Up Rule
Setbacks are part of the process. In the office, you may not nail the presentation or deliverance of a hard-worked project but life goes on. The same is true when living a healthy lifestyle. You may fall victim to a busy schedule or professional issues. Don’t take time sulking in the regrets of missing a few days of not working out or heavy snacking. Invoke the wake-up rule. Pick a day to the end the madness. Go to sleep. Wake up the next day with a healthy lifestyle as the focus. No need to harp on things that can’t be changed. Yesterday’s game is over. Be ready for tomorrow’s game.
Remember the Wins
As a former collegiate athlete, I had my fair share of tough losses. Twelve years later, I’ll admit several still bother me. Negative feelings arise any time the NCAA track and field regional meet gets mentioned around me. Guess what? I’ve had those feelings in business endeavours as well. Passed over for job promotions. Potential clients seeing no benefit in what my company had to offer. You could harp on losses throughout their whole life. But why when you can remember the wins! They are so much more satisfying than when you fall on your face. You lost 30 pounds. Remember the win! You were once a struggling intern, now you’re a college athletic administrator. Remember the win! Setbacks aren’t losses unless you don’t refocus on winning.
Restart Small
Typically, setbacks last longer than the occasional holiday or a day off due to a cold. They may involve a week at a bowl destination for your football team, a softball super regional, or time spent prepping for the grand opening of a new facility. Either way, restart an exercise in a smart way. Don’t take on too much too early. You want to ease back into it. Don’t pressure yourself into getting to where you left off. Your goal is to make exercise a habit again.
Utilize the Resources
So, you took a step back in terms of your health. Get back on track by utilizing the resources. As written in a past article about using your resources, it is important to understand the resources that are available on campus. Wellness facilities and experts are plentiful. Take some time to revisit what your campus offers. Visit the recreation center. Reach out to a professor in the field of health to get sound advice. Use a co-worker to keep you focused on your health goals. If you have a plan, overlook it and refocus.
Setbacks are imminent. They have happened and they are going to happen again. Your ability to refocus as soon as possible is the real challenge. Pick a day to invoke the wake-up rule and move on. Reminisce on how far you have come in your health journey by remembering the wins. Be smart about your restart and give yourself time to work out any differences in a new schedule. And revisit your plan and use your existing resources to help refocus your health goals.
About Walter Whitfield
Walter Whitfield is an employee wellness consultant and founder of Lavoro Workplace Wellness where he helps businesses improve their workplace through employee wellness strategies. He has worked with corporations like Chevron, BP, and Seadrill. Walter is a former college athlete for Louisiana’s Ragin Cajuns where he competed in cross country and track, winning Sunbelt conference titles in the 3k Steeplechase and 5k. He is married, has 3 kids, and loves all things New Orleans Saints and Louisiana’s Ragin Cajuns.