What to do when Things Don't go as Planned

For several years now, I've been one of those morning workout freaks. I get up a few mornings a week before 5 AM and head to the gym so I can be back by 6 to get going for the day.

Unfortunately, at this late stage of pregnancy I'm in, morning workouts just aren't... working out (pun intended).

I'm realizing I need to savor as much energy as I can for work and family and the last time I got up to walk, I felt completely run down for the rest of the day. Not to mention I was extremely uncomfortable during my mere 30 minute walk.

I've always enjoyed morning workouts because I started the first hour of the day not only breaking a sweat, but giving myself time to mentally prepare for the day. Additionally, a healthy lifestyle is something I feel is important for myself so morning workouts fall right in line with those goals.

But what do you do when a goal you want to strive for becomes unattainable for reasons out of your control?

It's been difficult for me to accept the fact that morning workouts are just going to have to be completely sidelined for the next few months. However, life seems to move on whether I particularly like the situation I'm in or not.

So here's a few things I'm attempting in order to keep my sanity regarding this bump in the road:

Accept the situation is what it is. Ug. This one really stinks, if I'm being brutally honest. But I also think this is the first and most crucial step to keeping you life on track and moving forward. It's easy to get bogged down with frustration and sadness when we're unable to work on goals we find important. And don't get me wrong, I spent a few days being a little down about having to give up my typical morning routine for reasons beyond my control. It sinks! We don't like it.

But once you take the time to let the information settle, you'll realize that you can either spend your time wallowing, or you can accept that this situation is what it is. It's out of your control and there's nothing you can do about it right now. Like I said, this point really stinks. It's not fun, and it's definitely not the news we want to hear or the news we want to accept. However, it's also a necessary step if you want life to keep moving forward positively.

Use your down time as an opportunity to work on another life goal. I had the opportunity a few months back to listen to a motivation speaker share a story about a phase of lie his 14 year old son went through.

His son was a phenomenal football player but kept complaining of back pain during his freshman season. When the season ended, the son went in to the Dr. and it was discovered that he had a couple broken vertebre in his back. He was told he wouldn't be able to play sports again for at least the school year - quite possibly the rest of his life.

The son began to cry and was consumed with utter disappointment. But his father looked at him and said, "what an opportunity." The son looked confused, but his father continued: "What an opportunity to work on your grades or find a new hobby."

The son then went on to graduate the top of his large high school class, and then got accepted and graduated from the military school at West Point.

What an opportunity. Think of what else you can accomplish while you have to back burner this one specific goal. I can't get through a 30 minute walk in the morning anymore, so instead I take that time to work on my writing. I try to take 45 minutes to check out a podcast or work on a rough draft instead. It's not the physical exercise I was once getting, but it does still help me clear my head and mentally prepare myself for the day. Plus I need all the help I can get to better my writing so... win/win! :)

Welcome the break and try to enjoy it if you can. I know, I know, this one sounds a little cheesy and probably not what you'd like to be doing right now. But always remember that things happen for a reason. Perhaps this is a time in your life where God is telling you to take a break.

It's probably not what we want to do (heck, it wasn't really what I wanted to do either), but I'm taking this time to welcome whatever phase of life God has put me in and try to enjoy a little break. I've been working out several years at 5 AM. Perhaps it's time to just give it a rest for a few months.

As I'm accepting my 30-something life right now, I'm also accepting that try as I might, things will not always go as planned. I won't always be able to have the perfect schedule or perfectly accomplish every goal the way I think I will - no matter what plans where made.

So now becomes the challenge of accepting this fact, and figuring out how to make the best of it.