Sometimes we get into a rut and wonder why things are the way they are. And this could be about anything, not just fitness.
Case in point.
Every morning, my 4-year-old twins have their routine before school. And every morning, I find myself annoyed and irritated, hurrying them along to do every task so that we're not late. It takes them forever to do everything. I mean, everything -- from getting showered, to brushing teeth, to putting their clothes on. You name it, it's going to take an inordinate amount of time to accomplish any given task. They're so easily distracted and inevitably suddenly have million things they need to tell me before they can do anything.
My phrase of the morning: "what are you supposed to be doing?"
And don't get me started on the shoes. After we have finally gotten to the point that we can get into the car, here comes the dreaded shoe task.
You'd think they could just slip those bad boys on and we're off. Oh no, no, no. That would be far too easy. Give that at least 15 minutes. Because once again, distractions pop up. That dinosaur that they haven't thought about in weeks, suddenly becomes all they can focus on. Or, the one child always needs help (never mind the fact that he, for certain, can do it on his own -- I've seen him!). "I caaaaaaaaan't do it," he says. Oh, of course you can't.
There is never enough time and we're always on the verge of being late. Don't let there be an accident on the highway, that will guarantee us walking into a class already in progress. Once we finally get in the car, I'm so frazzled that I need to take a moment to "woo sah" before we get moving.
Now, you'd think I'd figure this out, right? Apparently, I must enjoy this state utter internal chaos. Because anybody, and probably you reading this, would say "maybe you should just start getting them ready sooner?"
Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!
And can I tell you how many times, I've said I was going to do that?
Here's my problem: though I've recognized that the easiest solution would be to allow more time for the boys to get ready, I haven't made an actual plan to accomplish this. So right now, it's just a good idea that's floating around in my head.
In order to accomplish this simple-seeming adjustment, I'll need to completely restructure my morning. And let's be real here, this is not something that I really want to do. Why? Because it would require me getting up earlier. And my night owl self really doesn't want to hear about getting up early. I like staying up late and sleeping in a little.
OK, now we're getting somewhere.
The knowledge that I'll have to make some sacrifices that I'm not too eager to make (going to bed earlier and getting up earlier), is enough for me to not actually solve my problem.
What's a girl to do?
Well, I have to decide if this is important. Is allowing more time for my kids to get ready going to make our lives better? If so, then I need to make a real effort to make these changes. Thinking about it ain't gonna cut it.
Maybe you've found yourself in a similar rut? You want to do something differently, but just can't quite pull yourself out of the routine you've gotten comfortable in. What do you do? Well, I'd say you're going to have to have a good heart to heart with yourself. You need to figure out if this is something you really do want to change. If yes, then you'll have to identify what changes you need to make, devise a plan, then execute said plan.
You will likely have to make some sacrifices or do things that may make you uncomfortable, but in the end it'll pay off and you'll probably be happier.
As for me, my plan is to go to bed at least an hour earlier so I can get up an hour earlier and get those kiddos moving! They will have a whole two hours to get themselves together and out the door. I may have to sacrifice some end-of-the night YouTube video watching, but the fact that I won't be a frazzled mess in the morning and we will always be on time, will definitely be worth it.
And what's the lesson here? If you want a different outcome, you're going to have to make some changes. If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.
