Do you ever make a change in your routine that you presume will benefit you, only to find it actually fucks you up? That’s what life is all about!
I recently decided to do my 45 minute walk outside first thing in the morning instead of after the gym. My thought was it’d be nice to get it over with, I’ll burn calories doing it fasted, it’ll split up my two workouts and help my body rest, and I’ll have more free time in the afternoon.
All those things are true. I definitely prefer getting the walk over with, however, I faced and unexpected consequence. I am no longer sleeping well.
Now, I’m not 100% sure if this is the case, but my immediate hypothesis was that this is the result of no longer getting adequate sunlight. I’m well aware of how beneficial it is to be in the sun every day to regulate your vitamin D as well as sleep cycle, but with fall coming, there’s no sunrise while I walk.
I never anticipated such a drastic response to my changed routine. I was always feeling well rested and then tired right before bed. I was falling asleep quickly and getting 8 hours, but that hasn’t been the case since the switch.
So the lesson here is, sometimes when you think you’re doing something beneficial, you may receive unexpected consequences. When this happens, you have to make a choice by weighing your options. Do the benefits of one lead to a better life than what you were doing before? This is how you learn and grow. By trying new things and seeing what happens.
For my situation, sleep is way more important than all the benefits I see from doing my walk in the morning. Proper rest is a major requirement for my mental health and recovery, especially during 75 Hard. So with that, I’ll be going back to afternoon walks, unless my schedule requires it to be in the morning.
Don’t be afraid to try new routines. Just be aware of how the change affects you and make a choice to continue or try something different.
October 12, 2024
