There’s no denying that jet lag hits me hard. No matter what I do to prevent the feelings of lethargy, it always seems to creep up on me. After spending a week on the West coast, I have felt “jet laggy” all week. Today was particularly rough having slept later than usual, missing my workout and feeling groggy all day only to find myself wide awake now, after 10 p.m., when I am normally tucked in bed asleep.
This post isn’t about claiming to have found some holistic cure for jet lag. Note that there there is in fact a Jet Lag Diet (who knew!), although not likely something I’ll be trying (or recommending) anytime soon! My tips are the usual suspects: get plenty of sleep, eat well-balanced meals with plenty of green veggies, hydrate, avoid caffeine and sugar, etc. But even at the best of times those don’t seem to work for me. Rather, today I had an awakening about the importance of exercise and recovery that I wanted to share.
I’m the type of person who if I miss my morning workout, it’s a done deal for me. Rarely will I try to make it up in the evening. But fully recognizing that some movement was better than none, I still couldn’t bring myself to run outdoors. For whatever reason, it just wasn’t happening. However, I knew I wanted and needed a cardio workout. So instead of skipping my workout completely, I strapped on my cycling shoes and treated myself to a Soul Cycle class. Feeling refreshed and energized after, my mood and energy improved.
Doing something not a part of my normal routine and committing to it early in the day, motivated me to follow through. Having been an exerciser for almost 15 years, it’s something that I do, at times compulsively, and often without thinking about it but in the back of my mind motivated by managing my weight and toning my body. But today, that’s not what it was about.
Today, my workout wasn’t fueled by the possibility of weight loss or even how it would make me look. The sole purpose of my ride today was simple. To feel better. I can’t remember the last time I exercised for that reason alone and it brought me back to a place of connecting with my spirit and reminded me of the true importance of exercise, which I think is safe to say, many of us often overlook.
Why do you exercise?
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