Getting Back on Track

Image credit: Pxhere

This semester has been a tough one for me. I’ve been caught up with school, work and relationship troubles. It’s been my most challenging year yet, and rather than sticking to a healthy routine, I’ve fallen far from where I want to be.

I’m sure it’s been a hard semester for many people, though. I don’t need to rehash our common struggles over classes, relationships and health, and I certainly don’t want this to sound like a pity party.

I’ve fallen off the wagon. Here’s what I learned.

First, you have to understand that this sort of thing happens. Everyone’s schedule ebbs and flows.

It’s what you do to get back on track, though, that matters. Don’t be complacent — identify the unhealthy habits you’ve slipped into and make a plan to bounce back.

These past couple of months, I’ve hardly gone to the gym. I’ve been tending to my classes and job, not to mention some other personal issues, and it’s all kept me from working out. I’m not proud of that, but at the same time, I understand it’s just something that happens. I’ve been realistic. But now, I’m going to get back on the path.

Paul Kolody, a certified athletic trainer and the head strength coach at my old high school, Hunterdon Central, understands the difficulties college students face.

“It’s tough. Nobody’s there to wake you up, nobody’s there to tell you what to do,” Kolody said. “It’s developing those good habits and having those habits stay consistent.”

Kolody asked me how long I thought it took to form a good habit. I was a little caught off guard, so I guessed it takes three weeks. That wasn’t right, though: It takes a lifetime, he said.

“If you don’t do it, it’s no longer a habit,” Kolody said.

By facing problems as they come, you can learn from them and take steps toward becoming a better version of yourself.

You need to take care of yourself. That means taking time to relax, but it also means pushing yourself to get things done.

It’s a fine line to walk. Veer too far off to the left, and you’re being too harsh. Step to the right, though, and you’re too gentle. A happy medium is the place where you can push past adversity and stick to healthy habits. That’s where you can best take care of yourself — being strict with yourself, but dialing back when the work is done.

I had a hell of a time last week. I think my asleep-to-awake ratio — that is, the hours I spent in bed, versus the hours I spent awake and working — was five to 19 on most days. So, when the dust settled, do you want to know what I did that Friday night? I took a shower, cracked open my window and sat down with a burrito and a vanilla milkshake to watch “The Mandalorian.” I was also in bed by 9:30.

Knowing I had that on the horizon got me through a tough week. I got my work done and rewarded myself with a nice night. It was all the more sweet because I had pushed myself to get there.

Be Flexible

That’s something everyone’s heard, and it’s certainly easier said than done.

Ryan Gerbes, a sophomore at the University of Maryland, has also been finding it difficult to work out. He studies mechanical engineering, and between his classes, a job and a research position, he’s had to cut back on his time in the gym.

“I found myself so much more lethargic, stressed out and generally unmotivated,” Gerbes said. “I realized that spending my days working in the library, working in the lab and trying to squeeze sleep into my schedule was probably one of the worst things I could have done for myself.”

Gerbes said the key to getting back on track was in starting off small. Realizing he didn’t have to spend two hours in the gym every day, he said, was a turning point. He reworked his schedule and balanced his other activities with three workouts per week.

“Having a plan and options to do it anytime, for me, was one of the only reasons I was able to get back to it,” Gerbes said. “I know how the days can seem busy, and it just made me realize how important it is to make time for the things you care about.”

Look Forward

If you’ve found yourself in a rut, here’s my challenge for you: Take the next couple of weeks to figure out a schedule, and as we move into winter break, start experimenting. Find what works for you. Even if you’ll continue working or taking classes, this break marks a fresh start — have a fresh mindset, too. Take what you learn and use it in the new year.