You Don’t Need to “Get Back on Track” With Exercise

Does anyone else feel like September is secretly the second New Year?

Maybe it’s just years of being conditioned by the whole back-to-school season, but September still feels like a reset to me. There’s something about this time of year that makes me want to get organized, settle into a routine, figure out what our weeks are actually going to look like… and inevitably, think about all the things I want to “get back to.”

I hear the same thing from clients this time of year. Summer was busy, they traveled, the kids were home, workouts happened less often than planned, and now it’s, “Okay, September. I need to get back on track.”

I totally understand the feeling, but I don’t really love the idea of getting “back on track.”

Because when did we decide you were off it?

Your Routine Changed. That Doesn’t Mean You Failed.

If you worked out less this summer, you didn’t fail at exercise. You had a summer.

Maybe you walked more but lifted less. Maybe you were chasing kids around instead of doing Pilates. Maybe you traveled, worked, gardened, hiked, rested, or did absolutely nothing that would count as a formal workout.

That was just the season you were in.

Now the season is changing again, and your routine can change with it.

I think where we get ourselves into trouble is when we decide that getting back into a routine automatically means adding a bunch of things to our schedule.

If you weren’t working out much this summer, suddenly deciding that September-You is going to exercise five days a week, meal prep every Sunday, get 10,000 steps a day AND go to bed at 9:30 probably isn’t going to last very long.

And I say that with love because I think we’ve all done some version of it.

What Kind of Movement Sounds Good Right Now?

There’s nothing wrong with wanting a little more structure again. I actually really like routine. But movement doesn’t always have to be another appointment you squeeze into an already full calendar.

Maybe your body is asking for something different right now.

Maybe you’ve been sitting more and you’re craving a good walk. Maybe you feel stiff and Pilates sounds better than picking up heavy weights. Or maybe you’re actually excited to get back to lifting because you’ve missed feeling strong.

Funny enough, I had one of those days recently.

I wanted to work out… but I also didn’t really want to work out.

I had the kids with me, they needed to move too, and going for a hike ended up being the perfect answer. We all got outside, everyone moved their bodies, and I got the movement I was craving without trying to force a traditional workout into a day where it didn’t really fit.

Sometimes that’s exactly what listening to your body, and your life, looks like.

I think there’s value in listening to that instead of immediately deciding what your routine should look like.

Returning to Movement Isn’t Starting Over

And remember, returning to movement is not the same thing as starting over.

Your body hasn’t forgotten everything you’ve ever done just because your routine changed for a few weeks or months. You still have the experience, awareness, strength, and knowledge you’ve built along the way.

You’re just figuring out what feels good and what fits in this season.

Try This: Look for Where Movement Fits

Before you add another workout to your calendar, take a minute and think about what your body is actually asking for right now.

Do you want to feel stronger? Are you stiff from sitting all day? Did you enjoy being outside more this summer? Would moving feel a whole lot easier if it also meant catching up with a friend?

Then look at the life you’re already living and see where movement could fit into it instead of automatically becoming one more thing on your to-do list.

Maybe you can walk to work, or park a little farther away and walk the rest.

Take advantage of the nice weather and go for a hike this weekend.

Text the friend you haven’t seen in a while and make a workout or a long walk your excuse to catch up.

Do a short Pilates session while dinner is in the oven, or spend ten minutes moving before you sit down at your desk for the day.

It doesn’t have to look like a perfectly planned exercise routine to count.

Sometimes the easiest way back into movement is to stop asking, “Where am I going to find time to work out?” and start asking:

“Where would movement actually feel good in my life right now?”

Start there.

So if September has you feeling that familiar urge to GET YOUR LIFE TOGETHER… maybe don’t overhaul everything by next Tuesday.

Listen to what your body is asking for and look for ways movement can fit naturally into the life you’re already living.

And if you’d like a little direction, my Custom Training Programs are built around your body, goals, schedule, and available equipment.

💙 Liz

getting back into exercise, exercise routine, realistic workout routine, movement routine, consistent exercise, Pilates routine, strength training routine, returning to exercise, workout routine for busy women, flexible workout routine, healthy movement, fitness routine