Adding Self-Care to Your Fitness Routine
Creating a fitness routine is more than just breaking a sweat at the gym a couple of days a week. Because working out can be difficult at times on your body, especially if you’re trying out new exercises you aren’t used to, it’s important to pause and remember to take care of yourself.
Practicing self-care while you reach your fitness goals is important for both your mind and body, and it can help you reach your goals that much faster. Below, we’ve listed some ways that you can add self-care during your workouts and your free time.
Don’t forget to breath
Believe or not, it’s hard to remember to breathe when you’re working out. When you’re that focused, you can even hold your breath, which isn’t recommended. The next time you go for a run or are lifting weights, try and keep in mind that you need to breathe in through your nose and out your mouth. Incorporating the right breathing techniques into your workout will help you get the most out of it, because it can help you stay focused and more importantly, deliver the oxygen your body needs to perform its best.
Meditate every morning and night
When an athlete is talking about being “in the zone,” while they’re burning calories, they have meditation to thank for that. Meditation can provide a wide variety of benefits for both your body and mind while you work out. Not only can meditation relieve stress and reduce overeating, but also it can keep you focused on your fitness goals. When you start a workout, your mind is most likely wandering elsewhere to a work presentation or a conversation you had with a friend earlier in the day. Meditation can help bring your mind back to focus, especially if you do it in the morning when you wake up and at night before you go to bed.
Stay organized
Working out is like anything in life - it’s easier to accomplish if you stay organized. If you travel to the gym to sweat, make sure you have your playlist ready to go in your phone and an idea of what workouts you want to accomplish while you’re there. Pay attention to how you’re feeling during your workouts and record your session afterward. If you prefer to workout at home, make sure you’re doing your squats and crunches in an area that’s clean and free of clutter. This will help you stay focused on the exercise instead of reminding yourself to clean up later.
Eat a balanced diet
What’s the point of working out if you gain back all those calories in unhealthy fast food? Your body is your temple, and it’s important to feed it the nutrients it needs to stay energized. By eating a balanced diet full of organic, non-processed foods, you’ll feel better while you work out and you’ll see results quicker. Foods that are recommended for your fitness plan include healthy carbohydrates, protein, fruits and vegetables. Don’t forget to stay hydrated not only during your workout but before and afterwards.
Don’t overdo it
When you’re hitting the gym, it can be tempting to tire yourself out while you’re there and burn as many calories as you can. However, it’s important not to overdo it, especially for people who are recovering from addiction. Overdoing your exercises can lead to injuries and wear you out both physically and mentally.
Wake up with the sun
Do you ever feel like there’s not enough time in the day? Make more time in your day by waking up an hour earlier than your normal time. This can give you time to make coffee, write in your journal, or read the newspaper. This extra hour can give you the quiet time you need to mentally prepare for the day ahead.
You want to be the best version of yourself and that starts with developing good habits for both your body and your soul. While you workout and pursue your fitness goals, remember to keep these tips in mind to ensure your mind stays healthy and put yourself first.
Photo: Unsplash