Resetting old habits

I recently returned from a trip to Ireland and, as with any visit to my family, there was lots of eating and drinking.  For the last 12 months or so, I’ve also been a regular attendee at my local gym.  I’m not the fittest or youngest there, but the mixture of classes and connection works for me – I can honestly say I love it.

I’m also more conscious of what I eat and drink now – mainly less alcohol because I  sleep better when I don’t.  I go to bed earlier.  I get up earlier.  I have more energy, and the days feel longer in a good way.

Yet when I was in Ireland a bizarre thing happened. I walked less, stayed up late, ate and drank more than I normally would – nutrition be damned. 

I know any break is to a chance to unwind, and this visit was more emotional as it was to mark the first anniversary of my Dad’s passing.  That said, pretty much every part of my daily routine went out the window.  

I was only away four nights, yet when my regular gym class rolled around the day after I got back, I was too tired to go.  

By the weekend – when I would have normally done a class on Saturday and Sunday morning – I opted for a lie-in. Ironically, instead of feeling rested, I felt exhausted.

I know a week’s ‘blip’, if that’s what you want to call it, isn’t much in the grand scheme of things.  And it’s not about sticking rigidly to routines either – it’s more about how easily I re-embraced old habits. 

I feel good when I exercise – physically and mentally. I adopt better nutritional habits. My sleep improves. And I love an early rise when the rest of the world is just beginning to wake up. 

The ‘old’ me  often drank too much, went to bed late, got up late. Exercise was hit and miss, and I felt sluggish and tired a lot of the time as a result.  Yet somehow, when I go back ‘home’, I slide into  my ‘old’ ways so easily.  

Is it the familiarity and comfort in this, or is it that when your regular routine is thrown out the window, even for a short while, it’s just not worth the extra effort to adapt? 

Of course it’s nice to relax the feeling of responsibility for a little while. Likewise, unconsciously falling into old habits and personas when your routine changes – whatever that looks like – without pausing to consider why, also deserves attention, especially if you’ve worked hard to build new ones.

It certainly got me thinking, so maybe that awareness is progress of sorts.  Needless to say, I’m booked up for my regular gym classes next week.  I’m up early again, with time to walk the dog before work – and feeling better for it.