Looking forward to the New Year, you may have already felt the almost innate need to create goals for self-improvement, fitness and wellness, your finances, your career, and so on.
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You are likely going to feel an impulse to buy fancy goal planners, self-help books, and all sorts of organizational products to keep yourself on track!
There is even a chance that you’ll register for free seminars, masterclasses, and groups to which you don’t yet belong.
But before we get carried away with rushing 2020 out the door, and welcoming 2021, it is important to reflect on the lessons learned.
Yes — 2020 wasn’t what any of us expected. But I think we did our best at pivoting and making do with what we had.
In hindsight there are several things I will do differently thanks to this year.
One is to always practice gratitude. 2020 was one of the busiest years I had as a personal trainer. And with all of the things going on in the world, I still had clients who showed up and put in the work, even when they could have easily made excuses. In the past, I would wake up grumbling about getting up early, or this, or that — but this year has taught me to be grateful to serve others and serve a bigger picture.
Although it may sound obvious, I’ve learned that you must work for everything that you want. Prior to 2020, I was used to having people meet me during the first consultation — and botta bing botta boom — a NEW CLIENT.
This year was a little bit different. Social distancing, and people being wary about training with someone they didn’t know, made it much more challenging to sign new clients. It took a lot of hard work, getting resourceful, and being more consistent about posting on social media.
Shifting your mindset
Being stuck at home with no place to go can give you that “stuck” or “caged” feeling. It can leave you mentally reeling or paralyzed. Unfortunately, this darkness tried to get its claws into me around late summer.
So then, how do you swim to shore when you feel like you are drowning? First, you need to take on your feelings and emotions head on. It’s okay to be afraid, but to grow, you need to face the root causes of your challenges.
Once you are aware of the problem, it is time to begin working through your feelings, stressors, thoughts, and fears. For me, this was the hardest part. I struggle with my self-worth and comparison.
We all know that comparison is the thief of joy. At one point this summer, I really had to get off all social media just to clear my head, and to focus on the things that I like about me. One thing that especially helped shift my mindset was the book Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist. The book was full of down-to-earth insights that really spoke to me. All I know is that mental health is a continuous and ongoing journey — something that is super important for you to keep in mind.
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Perceptions on fitness
When people are in a “rut” like the one I am describing, the first habit to go is exercise. Sadly, this is when people need it the most! Exercise is proven to reduce stress, depression, and strengthen your overall mental health.
At the beginning of the year, I was really going strong. But as the spring months bled into summer, and the world seemed to be crashing down, my drive just kind of evaporated. I know, I know…. Practice what you preach!
But seriously — just because I am a personal trainer doesn’t make me immune to stress, burnout, etc. Sometimes it just sneaks up on you. And it happened to me.
I was in complete burnout mode. I basically just stopped working out. (Which was the wrong thing to do).
What really needed to change was how I viewed exercise at this moment in my life. I realized that everything doesn’t revolve around a workout. A fitness routine should be part of my life — not my whole life. 2021 will be about fit-life balance.
Related Post: NEED MOTIVATION TO WORKOUT? START WITH MENTAL STRENGTH
The importance of nutrition
I cannot stress it enough: Nutrition is the MOST. IMPORTANT. PART. OF GETTING HEALTHY! Everything you put into your body affects both your physical and mental health.
Highly processed foods cause serious inflammation in the body, leaving you feeling awful. I usually eat healthy, but fruit and veggie wise, I was not doing my body justice. This year, I tried to eat about 6 to 8 cups of veggies and fruits per day, and it made a huge difference. I felt like I had more energy, my recovery speed increased, my immune system felt like it was working well, and I felt less inflamed.
Eating your macros is great, but make sure that you get your micronutrients (aka vitamins and minerals). Those nutrients are vital in synthesizing macronutrients, and in helping your body function properly.
Looking back at 2020, there were definitely some curve balls, teachable moments, and tears. But mostly, the year provided a space that allowed for growth without distraction. I wish you all the best for 2021!
Lyndsey Bobola understands the struggles of losing weight and getting healthy. She has lost over 65 pounds through her fitness journey. Breaking through the fad diets and exercise routines and giving up excuses, Lyndsey created goals and developed nutrition plans that worked! She gained a healthy lifestyle and now feels better than ever before. As her life improved, Lyndsey developed a passion to help others discover the path to a healthier life.
Now, Lyndsey is here to help clients cut through the noise of Instagram fitness models and fad diets to find real, lasting change. She is here to help people who are ready to improve their life through fitness, health, and life goals.
Scrolling through Instagram accounts of so-called fitness models, Pinterest meal prep ideas, and online workout programs with no scientific backing, Lyndsey realized a majority of fitness ideas online are wrong. They are designed for quick but not lasting results, to make you feel inadequate, or to get your money and leave you hanging. Lyndsey wants to change that through education and hands-on training. Taking no excuses, she provides honest and effective guidance for people who are ready for change.
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