Being Realistic
Exercise and activity are not things we can easily work into our lives in this day and age. While it's certainly more fun and exciting to think that once we set active intentions, we will always easily reach our goals and live active lives, that is an unrealistic expectation. And having unrealistic expectations does not help us reach and keep our goals.
Therefore, you should plan on surprises and roadblocks. Planning for the obstacles will be your best support in reaching your goals. For example, let's say your number-one goal is to go swimming every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the Y. When you write that intention down in your date book (you are doing that, right?), don't delude yourself into thinking that nothing will get in your way.
Be honest. Is it a possibility that you're going to have to go to an event at your son's school? Did you remember hearing that your book club might get together on Wednesday rather than Tuesday this month?
The number-one reason people give for not exercising is “lack of time.” But it's not really about time, but about planning. Even presidents find time to exercise, as do many stay-at-home moms and busy executives. Tom Brokaw is famous for running up and down the stairs in the hotels he stayed in, and Sheryl Crow practiced yoga before her stadium shows. Their secret? Not time, but a place for exercise in their daily schedule.
Now that you are being honest about and accepting these potential obstructions, you can use that knowledge to work around them. So, continuing our example, figure out what you can do instead of swimming if you have to. Can you take a walk in the morning? Can you swim on Tuesday rather than Wednesday if there is a change in your book club's schedule? Creating alternatives in your schedule will strengthen your resolve and help your reach your goals.
