Workout Wisdom Peloton Edition - part 2
Earlier this week I kicked off my series of posts about what I’m taking from my Peloton workouts into the parts of my life that I wear real pants for.
2. Plans are written in pencil during a pandemic. Every night I map out my workout for the next morning picking a cycling class or two most days, and augmenting that with strength and stretching. I’d be interested to see my stack stats: how often do I change my stack first thing in the morning and do something totally different than what I planned? I’d guess at least 50% of the time. Since my primary goals are to move, get sweaty and have fun, I have no problem swapping a 60 minute power zone class for a 15 minute climb and 30 minute 80s pop ride if I’m not feeling a long endurance ride. I do what looks like fun. Or what will push me really hard on days when I wake up with extra energy or full of rage at something in the news. Somedays I just can’t. It is month 12 of a pandemic after all. So I cue up a restorative yoga class instead of anything sweaty. I listen to what my mind and body need rather than following a plan just because it’s there. And if the Chicago winter weather cooperates and there’s a morning above 20 degrees, I’ll ditch the bike and go for a run or walk. If I was training for an event I’d stick more closely to a plan, but it’s 2021 and there are no events. So I adjust and do what feels right.
As I give myself grace with my workout plans, I also give myself and others space to be whole people in our work lives. I’ve taken to scheduling 45 minute meetings to create buffers if we wrap on time, and avoid blowing up people’s calendars if we need a few more minutes to be humans just connecting and not rushing right into work. 30 minutes doesn’t allow for human time, and an hour doesn’t leave time to take a bio break or check in on the kids between meetings.
I often start meetings by asking “how are you doing as a person living in a pandemic”. Recognizing that things are not as they once were sets a tone for the meeting. And when folks I coach express frustration with not being able to do it all, I often remind them that it’s 2021 and plans are written in pencil. We all have days when the events of the world, and the months of pandemic hit especially hard. I know that the events of January 6th sent me reeling as I knew someone who was involved, and my productivity plummeted for a few days. I had to let myself shift some deadlines, be vulnerable with my clients and partners and let them know I was struggling.
Remember that we’re all in uncharted emotional waters and what we each need varies day to day (and sometimes hour to hour). Be kind to each other, and, especially to yourself.