Navigating Work-Life Balance to Prioritize Your Health
Staying consistent with exercise and a healthy lifestyle is something we all strive for, but many of us fall off the wagon at some point. Why? Because life gets busy, priorities shift, and sometimes our best intentions get buried beneath everything else. But consistency is not about perfection—it’s about making fitness a non-negotiable part of your life. To do that, we need to understand both the reasons we fall off track and how to proactively build a lifestyle that supports our goals.
Why People Fall Off the Wagon:
1. Lack of Clear Goals or Purpose
Without a strong why, motivation fades. When workouts feel like a chore instead of a choice, it becomes easy to skip them. Defining your purpose gives you an anchor. Motivation comes and goes, but discipline will always be there.
2. Poor Time Management or Overcommitting
Many people take on too much, especially in the beginning of their health and fitness journey. When they can’t maintain a 6-day workout schedule, or can’t maintain their meal prepped food, they quit instead of adapting. Time management and realistic planning are key.
3. All-or-Nothing Mentality
Missed a workout? Ate something off-plan? That doesn’t mean you failed. Consistency isn’t about doing everything perfectly—it’s about getting back on track when life happens. Life is always happening, there will always be something taunting your discipline. It's okay to get off track sometimes, it’s about how we come back and give ourselves grace.
4. Mental Health Challenges
Let’s talk about the real stuff—when your mind is heavy, everything feels heavier. Stress, anxiety, depression, and even just mental fatigue can be some of the biggest blockers to consistency. When you're in a rough mental space, finding the energy to move, prep a meal, or show up for yourself can feel impossible. And ironically, exercise is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. Movement releases endorphins, reduces stress, and creates a sense of control when everything else feels chaotic. But in those low moments, it’s crucial to shift the perspective: consistency doesn't mean going hard—it means showing up in some way. A walk counts. Ten minutes counts. Stretching, journaling, texting a friend to meet you at the gym—it all counts.
Mental health challenges don’t make you weak. They make you human. And choosing to keep going, however imperfectly, is the strongest thing you can do.
5. Intimidation or Lack of Confidence
Unfamiliar environments and feeling like you don’t know what you’re doing can be a major mental block. Supportive spaces and guidance help build confidence. At Journey we have built a welcoming and inviting gym and I hope none of our clients feel this way, if you do let's talk about it! We can modify and support you where you’re at. If you know of someone in your life that struggles with confidence and intimidation in the gym, I invite you to welcome them to Journey Training!
6. Lack of Progress or Plateaus
Progress isn’t always visible right away. People give up when they don’t see quick results, even though consistency compounds over time. We’ll keep saying it because it’s true—consistency is everything. But let’s be real: consistency doesn’t always look the same in every season of life. Maybe you miss a few weeks, even a month, because work is chaotic or your kids are sick. That’s okay. In the grand story of your life, a short break from the gym is just a single sentence—not the whole book. What truly matters is how you respond. Do you give yourself grace? Do you choose to pick yourself back up? That’s where real consistency lives—not in perfection, but in the decision to keep going.
7. Low Energy or Burnout
Starting too hard or not giving yourself recovery time can lead to exhaustion. Proper rest and balance are part of the plan. If you haven’t read Austyn’s article about consistency with sleep and how to get better sleep, I encourage you to check it out! Sleep is EVERYTHING, when your exhausted discipline tends to go right out the window. Plan/schedule your sleep!
8. Lack of Support or Accountability
Community matters. Without encouragement or someone checking in, it’s easy to let things slide. Community is what makes Journey Training so powerful.
Creating a Work-Life Balance That Supports Consistency
We all wear a lot of hats: employee, parent, partner, friend. Life is full. But creating balance means planning your life to support your health goals, not waiting for time to magically appear.
5 Things You Can Under-Prioritize to Stay Consistent:
Work Overflow: Hard boundaries are essential. Say no to extra tasks if they compromise your health.
Social Events Without Purpose: Skip going out "just because." Prioritize meaningful events and plan around them.
Late Nights: If you're out, have a hard cutoff time. Protect your sleep and recovery.
Unstructured Free Time: It’s okay to relax—but plan around your goals first, then add the extras.
Household Chores: These can wait. A spotless home isn’t worth sacrificing your workout, your meal prepping, or your sleep.
This list might look different to you, but create a list of some things you can under-prioritize in order to achieve your goals. Trim the fat when it comes to unnecessary time wasters.
Plan Your Life Like You Plan Your Work
Think about how meticulous we are with work meetings and appointments. Why don’t we do the same with our health?
Start blocking time for:
Workouts
Bedtime (yes, schedule it!)
Grocery shopping & meal prep
Chores
Social time
Creating a routine that works for your schedule is the foundation of consistency. It’s not about restricting your life, it’s about designing it.
Show your people what you’re committed to. Let them know when you need to leave a gathering or why you can’t stay out late. That kind of self-respect breeds inspiration.
Consistency is a choice. One made over and over in the small moments, day after day. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to plan, prioritize, and protect what matters.
Your health is worth it.
-Bailey