February 2, 2021, by Charlotte Gauja

Finding Consistency in Fitness in Inconsistent Times

It often feels as though the only certainty of these past ten months has been uncertainty. Lockdowns, gyms open, closed, open, then closed again. With such inconsistency, it is understandable to see our focus towards fitness, follow that pattern of unpredictability.

What can we do to find more certainty with our fitness when things remain so uncertain? Fitness Instructor, Bharat, share’s two Ideas, followed by Actions to turn these ideas into something we can realistically implement. Read more to understand how to face inconsistency head on, and turn it into something consistently positive.

Having a Routine

The Idea

The benefits of having a routine are not new. We are not talking about having a regimented set physical exercise programme you have to follow six days per week. That’s not for everyone. But having a realistic blueprint for yourself helps build the foundation of consistent commitment to fitness.

The Action

An exercise we could set ourselves every Sunday evening to jot down a schedule for the week. Whether you prefer written diaries, whiteboards or the calendar app, having visual reminders can be highly motivating. Even if we don’t quite manage to do as much as originally planned, it provides a sense of self-accountability. We are setting the foundation to progress and build, no matter what challenges come our way.

Embracing Change

The Idea

Inconsistency and uncertainty come about from things constantly changing. While change can be scary, inconvenient and unwanted, it’s not always a bad thing. We can learn to embrace change by getting more comfortable with being uncomfortable. Doing things outside of our comfort zone pushes us to reach our mental and physical potential. This can be achieved by progressive overload, and in lifestyle, exposure to new experiences which build our ability to adapt to different scenarios.

The Action

Embracing change is not an easy thing to do, but the first step is being open to it rather than simply dismissing. This can be achieved by identifying the consequences and opportunities of any given change, highlighting advantages and disadvantages.

For instance, an example unwanted change might be the closure of gyms. A con may muscle loss because access to equipment is limited. But the positives might be the increased time to focus such as properly rehabilitating a long-term injury. Other positives could be the opportunity to be more creative to a new training environment such as at home or outdoors.

Getting into the habit of being able to identify the potential pros and opportunities presented by challenging situations helps us deal with inconsistency. This is because it prepares us to handle change with a positive mindset, finding how we can consistently flip conditions in our favour by more readily adapting to them.

These two Ideas covered are not intended to be quick-fixes. They are ongoing processes that can be difficult to implement, especially during a time when it is easy to be dismissive to what is going on around us.

But focusing on what we can control rather than what we can’t, and tackling change, uncertainty and inconsistency head-on can help overcome these challenges. In terms of our mental and physical fitness, structure can provide much-needed motivation to our health and wellbeing. Identifying positives in seemingly negative situations can open up opportunities for us to be adaptable with our fitness as we embrace change. So, challenge yourself to have a go at our Actions, our mental exercises that might just help build a sense of consistency with your physical exercise and overall fitness.

If you have any questions on the above, or would like any specific guidance on what has been discussed, feel free to email me at Bharat.Samra@nottingham.ac.uk

Bharat Samra

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