Being a first-time stay-at-home dad is an incredible but often stressful experience.
I didn’t expect the level of stress that came with all of this change. My wife and I planned as best as we could, but you just can’t plan for everything.
Then, to make matters worse, I got laid off.
I started skipping workouts.
After a few days of missed workouts…tension built up, anxiety crept in, my focus slipped, and I became irritable (just ask my wife).
I’m telling you this because we all know the benefits of working out, but let’s be honest; it’s not always easy to make it a weekly priority.
That’s why I wanted to share my personal experience with you.
I want to stress the importance of taking care of yourself and finding ways to manage stress, especially during tough times.
Trust me; it’s worth it.
Because we all tend to aim too high in the short term while underestimating what we can achieve in the long run…
Which reminded me of a tweet I saw recently.
Fun fact: Research shows it takes, on average, 66 days to form a new habit (Lally et al., 2009).
So, here are a few quick tips for making a change that sticks:
- Be realistic in the short term and optimistic in the long term.
- Focus on the process (the actions), not just the result (goals).
- Make working out fit into your schedule instead of the other way around.
Hope you have fan-freaking-tastic week!