If you’ve spent any time in the health and fitness space, I’m sure you’ve heard plenty of admonitions that there are “no excuses” when pursuing your health and fitness goals. I tend to agree with that admonition, but probably for a completely different reason.
Sometimes, I take days (or even weeks) off training. Usually, I have articulable reasons for doing so (recovering from injury, illness, etc.). Sometimes, I don’t. Sometimes other life priorities win out, and I don’t take the time or energy for training. But I wouldn’t call any of these things “excuses.”
There are times in my life when my health and fitness goals are a very high priority for me (although I truly hope they’re never my highest priority). During these times, I’ll sacrifice almost anything to make sure I don’t miss the gym or neglect my nutrition. But there have been plenty of other times when other goals or pieces of my life overshadowed my health and fitness goals. During my first year of law practice, my job often won out. During these last few months when a health crisis has threatened a close family member, spending time with family wins out. Although I don’t plan on completely neglecting my health for any significant length of time, it isn’t always a top priority, and that’s totally okay!
If, in your life, you find yourself routinely and consistently prioritizing everything else over your health, then maybe it’s time to reconsider your priorities. But if you’re pursuing things that just matter more to you right now, then don’t feel guilty about “making excuses.” Focus on what matters to you and get back to fitness when you’re ready to prioritize it. Balance is great, and I try to at least keep my health and fitness running on the back burner during some of these seasons of life, but we’re (hopefully) playing the long game in this life. Be purposeful about what matters to you, and when you pursue it, it won’t be an “excuse”–it will be a decision.
Legally Fit 