Sometimes bad stuff happens. Be kind.

Sometimes we have setbacks.  We get injured or sick.  We take on a new work project that eats into the free time we didn’t really have to begin with.  Our favorite fitness instructor moves.  We have family stuff going on with kids or parents or spouses.  It happens.

There are two things to do when this happens and both of them are important.  I’m going to say one of them twice because it’s the harder one.

First, we have to treat ourselves with kindness.  That means we don’t beat ourselves up for being lazy or old or hurt or busy or whatever.  We give ourselves a hug, literally or metaphorically.  We don’t get into a tizzy about the emotional support cookie we may have eaten, but we also make sure we eat an emotional support salad next time, just to keep things in balance.  We take ourselves to the doctor when we need to.  We remember to breathe.

Second, we find another way.  Maybe we can’t do a lower body workout; time for arms!  Maybe we step outside for a walk break instead of a coffee break.  Maybe we consult with our friends and partners.  We are smart and creative people.  We can figure out what to do, even if it is exercising our patience until we have recovered enough to exercise our bodies again.

But remember:  we have to treat ourselves with kindness.  Being mean to ourselves will not help.