This post may contain affiliate links, which can earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you, as well as mentions of my own products. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to Stay Consistent in Midlife: Start With One Thing
Something hard happened to me at the end of this summer. I’m not going to talk about it here, but it was real, and it is the kind of thing that will stay with me forever. The reason I mention that is because it sparked something in me and I want to share what I did next, because it has changed the way I think about how to stay consistent in midlife.
How Do You Stay Consistent in Midlife?
The most reliable way to stay consistent in midlife is to choose one thing that matters to you and protect it, instead of trying to change everything at once. Start small, let it give a little on busy days, and find people who are doing it with you. That is what has finally worked for me, and the rest of this post is how it looks in real life.
Why Does Changing Everything at Once Never Last?
When you are carrying something difficult, it is very easy to stay stuck inside it. I could feel myself doing that, and I knew I needed to turn my attention toward something positive, even if it was small.
So I decided to make my health a priority. I have done this before, and I have also fallen off the wagon more than once, so I know exactly how that goes. What I also know is that when I take care of my body, everything else starts to feel a little more manageable. I feel better mentally and physically, and that feeling spreads into my marriage, my work, my mood and the way I show up for my family.
For years, I treated getting back on track like a big renovation, with new routines and new habits all starting on a Monday. It never lasted. This time I did not try to change my whole life. I picked one thing and gave it everything I had.
What Does Staying Consistent Actually Look Like?
I want to be clear that I am not sharing this to hand you a routine. Your one thing might look nothing like mine. I am sharing it because this is where I am, and I am honestly proud of it.
- Workouts: I do a 30 minute workout five or six days a week, very early in the morning before I head to work.
- Walking: I make sure I walk for 30 minutes a day. Sometimes it happens all at once, and sometimes it is 10 minutes here and there, and I count every bit of it.
- Meal prep: I prep a few quick, protein-focused meals for the week, for me and for my family.
I still cannot quite believe that I am the person who gets up that early on purpose. I do it because I want to. That is a very different feeling from forcing myself, and I had forgotten how good it is.
Why Is It Sticking This Time?
I found a fitness coach who records her workouts every day and puts together a meal plan each week. Her energy inspires me, and I decided to buy her app. I have never been part of anything like this before.
When I finish a workout, the app checks it off and invites me to share a comment with the community. Reading what other women say and adding my own words makes it feel like we are all doing this together. On the mornings when the alarm goes off in the dark and my bed feels too good to leave, knowing that those women are showing up helps me get up.
I have noticed three things that are different this time:
- I chose it. Nobody handed me a plan I felt I should follow.
- It’s flexible. On a packed day, 10 minutes of walking still counts, so I do not feel like I have failed.
- I am not alone in it. The community has made a bigger difference than I would have guessed.
I also know myself well enough to say that I am not assuming this will last forever. I have been here before. This is the first time in a long while that it has stuck through September and into October, though, and I am determined to keep it going.
My Family Has Opinions About Dinner
My family may think things have gotten a little boring around here at dinnertime. I told them too bad, because they can be healthy too! I want the people I love to feel good, and a few simple protein-focused meals prepped ahead of time make the week easier for all of us.
Try This With Me
I want you to understand this part clearly. You do not need to start a workout routine. You do not need to change everything at once, which is something I have tried more times than I can count.
Ask yourself one question instead: What is one thing that makes everything else feel a little easier to deal with when I do it?
Maybe it is a morning walk, a phone call with a friend, a quiet cup of coffee before the house wakes up, or finally getting your sleep back on track. Whatever it is, start with that one thing and let the rest wait.
If you are working on getting back into a rhythm, you may also like Getting Back Into a Routine After Falling Off (Without Beating Yourself Up).
I would love to know what your one thing is right now. Leave a comment below, or reply to my Friday newsletter.
free 3-day challenge
3 Days To Feel Like Yourself Again
Some days get away from you before you even notice. That isn’t a flaw in you, it’s what happens when you’re carrying more than an ordinary day accounts for. For three days, I’ll send you one small thing to focus on, no to-do list, no overhaul, just one small win a day. By day three, you might feel like yourself again, and some days, maybe even a little more than that.
