Planning Fit Life, Fitting Plans in Life

 “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” ― Benjamin Franklin. Having a goal is the start of any new fitness journey. Achieving it starts with planning for success.

It’s very inspiring to see our members and clients believing in themselves, having their dreams turn into goals, and helping them plan to get there. It can be running their first 5K, losing 10 pounds, committing to daily gym workout — anything fitness-related.

But it all starts with a simple task — planning. Most of us plan our lives one day at a time, but I suggest trying it a little differently. New Year is known as a day to start our new resolutions, and they say that commitment somehow usually dissipates in 30-60 days.

Why is this happening? In my opinion, it’s because of poor planning. I write down my yearly fitness goals like almost everyone else — on New Year Day — run a full marathon, run two halves, compete at least once, increase sprints.

Then I plan the upcoming week by booking times for workouts, signing up for classes, grocery shopping, and cooking, house chores, errands, SPA appointments, and a rest day. And finally, every night before I go to bed, I schedule every hour of my next day, starting with a set wake-up time, cardio work out, work, travel, afternoon workouts, and mealtime and dishes.

I also check in on how well I did with that day and rate my day overall for the workout, food, mood overall. It helps me with finishing the day with an eye on the goal, wake up prepared for the next day, and not giving room for any errors.

Of course, life happens, and occasionally, I need to compromise my regiment to join the last-minute trip invite on Saturday morning, or you're having guests out of town — then I just get up two hours earlier, to get my workout done. I am rarely caught in the middle of the day hungry and with only fast-food restaurants around me because I have time allocated for meal prep and I pack them with me.

I always have healthy snack options available to grab like boiled eggs, apples, and cottage cheese. I pack my gym bag and lunch bag the night before, fill my car with gas on my way home and charge all devices. So, my mornings are usually quiet, stress-free, and I am never late.

This strategy helps me be efficient with my time, maximize the use of every hour that belongs to me, and simplifies my life. I achieved all my set goals, no matter how crazy ambitious they seemed at first. The higher the bar was, the more planning I did, the more writing I did.

I have an ambitious goal for this year too, I have written notes with steps I am taking towards my fitness goal everywhere — on my nightstand, in my car holder in a car, on my kitchen countertop, in bathrooms, and of course, my monthly planner. I have my weaknesses and of course, I am not always so perfect.

But if I didn’t make it to the gym, or overindulged at the party, or overslept — I don’t sweat about it because one slip up is not going to do any damage, and I already planned the next day, the following week, and the entire month, so I am not worried. I will fix it, I will follow my plan.

Personal Wellness Coach Nika Helge

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