For many bulldoggers, summertime is slowlyyyy making its way into the rearview mirror. Vacations are over (no!), kids are heading back to school (see ya!), and we suddenly feel the pressure to get back into our full body workout routine. Remind us how we did all of the normal life things before summer came our way? Getting back to the grind is no joke.
The good news? There are ways to make it easier.
We’re breaking down nine tips for getting back in the post-summer flow and full body workout routine below. Sending you our best bulldog wishes for a (mostly) easy transition!
1. Take baby steps.
If your summer has been full of sun and fun and travel and excitement, you need to be realistic about just how quickly you can get back into your typical — dare we say boring? — routine. We know you’re a rock star, but it’s pretttty unlikely that you’ll be in full summer mode one day and then totally back to business the next. Get real!
Rather than trying to get back into every aspect of your routine at once, you might want to set smaller goals for yourself. Give yourself a few days to set up the kids with a homework schedule, a few more days to organize all of your closets, a few more days to start cooking and stop eating out, and a few more days after that to return to your usual full body workout routine. Do your yoga at home and remember how good it makes you feel. There’s no shame in taking baby steps, as long as you get there eventually!
2. Set yourself up for success.
One of the best ways to ensure that you stick with plans and habits (even when they don’t feel fun) is to limit the number of excuses you can make to avoid them. Removing those potential outs from the equation should make it at least a little easier to get back on track. Consider each excuse and fight it proactively.
If you’re aiming to make it to a yoga class one morning to get your full body workout routine in early, set your clothes out the night before.
If you’re hoping to get back on your healthy cooking game, plan out your recipes a few days in advance so that you can have everything you need in the kitchen and ready to go later in the week.
If you want to reprioritize date nights with your partner, make a reservation.
3. Stick with the healthy basics.
The only thing worse than switching out of summer mode and back into real world mode is feeling crummy in the process. We can’t guarantee that you won’t be a bit of a grouch along the way, but we can tell you that practicing consistent healthy habits will at least give you a little extra energy to get through it.
Drink plenty of water — according to Harvard Medical School, you should be drinking four to six cups per day — eat your favorite treats in moderation, and rework some meditation or mindfulness practices into your day to make your physical and mental health the best it can be.
4. Plan ahead.
Your summer trips and adventures wouldn’t have happened without a little extra planning. It’s going to take planning to resume normal activities, too!
Break out the old calendar — whether it’s an app or paper version — and plan out time for meal prep, your full body workout routine, hanging out with people you care about, and indulging in some high-quality self care around all of your can’t-miss commitments. In a few weeks, you may not feel like you need to do quite so much planning, but for the time being, it will get you back in the groove.
5. Make sleep a priority.
In the chaos of adjusting from summer to fall, it’s all too easy to let rest fall off your priority list. Between refocusing on work and packing school lunches and trying to find time to exercise regularly again, who has time to sleep?
You better find that time! Sleep is just as important in the fall as it was back in the summer when you were feeling a little more carefree. Set more realistic expectations for what you can accomplish every day so that you can go to bed at a reasonable time… and turn off the screens a little early if you have to! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that most adults log at least seven hours of sleep per night.
6. Try something new!
Yes, you’re getting back into a routine… but who says that routine has to look exactly how it used to? Now may be the perfect time to change things up with a new family schedule, a new approach to your full body workout routine, or a new habit. You’re already feeling like you’re in a moment of transition, so you might as well go big.
Might we suggest a refreshing spin on your usual yoga workouts like what we offer in our Boulder studio and Main Line studio?
7. Put some things to look forward to on the calendar.
Summer rules. We understand that saying goodbye to it can be absolutely no fun (like, no fun at all). Quit trudging through these fall days by putting a few positive plans on the calendar for the coming months.
If you have a weekend trip or even a casual day with friends to look forward to come October, maybe these September days won’t feel like quite such a bummer! There’s nothing like anticipating a great day to keep you motivated through the not-so-great days.
8. Make it a group effort.
You’re not the only one struggling your way into this new season. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends and loved ones if they’re experiencing similar stress! Keep each other accountable with regular check-ins or even hilarious GIF exchanges. Jumpstart your workout routine by throwing an at-home yoga party with friends. Most things are better when you don’t do them alone.
9. Stop being so hard on yourself.
If all else fails, remember that no one expects you to be totally out of summer mode ASAP. Hold on to those vacation vibes for a bit… and don’t feel guilty if you don’t nail the schedule right away or find yourself snoozing on your alarm a few times here and there.
You’ll be back at it soon enough!
***You can get the bulldog experience anywhere, anytime with our online classes or via our app (App store | Google Play)! Don’t forget to subscribe to the bulldog blog so you can get e-mail notifications about every new post.***
Featured image: Tim Gouw/Unsplash