When the Floor is Dirty and Motivation is Low… Do It Anyway.
Leaves and Cobwebs and Pilates Equipment, Oh My!
The floor needs to be swept.
The cobwebs need to be cleaned.
I should start taking things out of here because I need to re-do this space.
The pilates track is on the door because I can’t put it anywhere else till after I paint (and that can’t be done till after I clean out) and I can’t see the screen clearly.
I have to get ready for something today (in 2 hours)…
So many reasons NOT to do the first 30-minute Pilates workout.
Reasons? Yeah.
Excuses? That too.
Does it matter if they are reasons or excuses? NOPE.
If you wait for conditions to be right, you’re not alone. Me too.
I mean who wants to lay on the dirty floor where you can’t see the screen very well, to do a workout?
But, while we are waiting, the pressure and guilt of not taking steps to help us feel better weigh heavy. And that alone makes it harder to take action. There is never the perfect time. There are never the perfect conditions. And, that waiting comes at a huge cost: becoming totally stuck.
What’s even a bigger concern is yet to come: we have a big life event or period of intensity (read: more challenges and stress than the usual average). We go into that moment already not feeling our best.
And then here comes the hurricane.
We start to drop the healthy habits we had because we feel we don't have time, and put off others we know we are overdue to start. By delaying improving our lifestyle, we solidify that for the next big life event, we won't be in shape/good health to help carry us through that.
But we'll get to that "as soon as this is over". Rinse. Repeat.
IT. IS. NEVER. OVER.
So, I did that first 30-minute Pilates workout. On the floor covered in leaves, with a clearer view of cobwebs than of the screen.
And do you know what happened? I not only survived but I came out of there (dusty and) feeling proud that I started.
Because of the breath work required, I felt clearer.
I stopped delaying on other things: like finishing this article and sending it to you (it’s been partially sitting in the notes in my phone for awhile), and taking a shower, fixing my hair, and going out to lunch with a friend, which we have been trying to do for longer than the notes have been waiting to be turned into a blog post.
I felt more like myself again.
And it was imperfect, but that didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was coming back into my body, doing something to take control of my health and fitness, and knowing that I overcame that perfection trap that has often kept me stuck. In this fall season, I also really need to be intentional about making sure I am moving, breathing, and staying out of the sedentary lifestyle. It’s good for physical and mental health!
So, when the floor is dirty, and motivation is low, do it anyway. Don’t clean the floor and then put away the laundry, etc. Do the workout. You’ll thank me - and yourself - later! And maybe you’ll even be more motivated to get unstuck on that housework then, too!
GET UNSTUCK WITH ME: STRONG & LIGHT DROPS NOV. 1
If you’re ready to get unstuck too, I have a 5-month program coming out starting November 1: “Strong & Light” brings your a digital yoga and pilates based program that 4 days/week, 20 mins or less per day to start. You don’t need any experience or any equipment (a yoga mat would help). Plus optional nutrition components.
The end result should be feeling better about ourselves, becoming more functionally strong and mentally flexible, and maybe even feeling like we look a little better by the time spring break trips come around. Drop me a note if you want to be the first alerted when it becomes available!
