Consistency in exercise is hard to achieve when you have an inconsistent schedule. AKA, the life of an ABD doctoral student: a seminar this week, a workshop next week, a rehearsal here, a recital there. It changes all the time.
I have a specially dedicated Google calendar that I've used for scheduling my training (e.g. long run on Saturdays, etc.), but the system doesn't work quite as well for me in tracking my training. Did I run 3 miles instead of 4? Did I swim on Tuesday instead of Monday?
So I've decided to embrace a physical calendar. Now, I'm not sure I have *ever* had a wall calendar that I've used for anything other than decoration. But here's to a new system... if it's successful, I'll be sure to let you know.
I've kind of modeled it after our kitchen whiteboard (see image below). Here we mark what meals are on the week's menu (and when we cooked them), things we need to do, and things we need to buy at the store. It's visual, in the middle of the kitchen, hard to miss and, consequently, keeps us on track. If there is something I need to talk to Thomas about (especially, if I'm afraid I'll forget), I can just add it to the board.
The idea behind the calendar is to provide a clear visual for what we have and haven't been doing.
Sometimes, I might think "I haven't been swimming in a while." But I can't remember did I last go last week? Or the week before? It will also provide a simple visualization for how active we've been.
I've mentioned it before, and I'll say it again, life seems so much easier to manage when I'm active. But when it's the most stressful is also when it is the hardest to make the time to go outside and get some fresh air.
Do you struggle with consistency? What do you do to keep active? Please share any tips or suggestions below.