As the days get shorter and the mornings get a little darker, I'm seriously contemplating making a change to my walking routine. At least until the bear activity calms down!
I usually try to get out the door before 6:30 so I can be back by 8n and ready to start seeing clients. I absolutely love watching the sun rise, and that quiet time outside is something I look forward to every morning. I feel like it not only sets my circadian rhythm, but mentally prepares me for the day.
But after a close encounter last weekend, I'm reconsidering my timing. Maybe I'll leave a little later, or perhaps I'll try fitting in an afternoon walk again.
I'm still figuring out what will work best. I like having a routine, and if I'm being honest, I don't always do particularly well with a willy-nilly schedule. I like knowing what to expect and having my day planned out. At the same time, I'm trying to get better at being flexible when circumstances change.
And that's what this time of year reminds me: seasons change, and sometimes our routines need to change with them.
We often think of consistency as doing the same thing, at the same time, every single day. But consistency is really about making space for the things that matter, even when the details have to shift. If my morning walk needs to happen later in the day, it doesn't make it any less valuable. The important thing is that I keep moving and find a rhythm that works for this season.
The same can be true for you. Maybe the workout time that worked for summer no longer fits your schedule. Maybe the kids are back in school, your work hours have changed, or the weather is making your usual outdoor routine more or less appealing. Rather than giving up on the habit, look for a way to adjust it.
You don't have to recreate the exact routine you had last season. You just need to find a way to keep the things that matter in your life.
As you settle into fall, take a look at your own routines. What's working? What feels harder now? Is there something you could move, simplify, or change to make it fit your life a little better?
I'm still working through those questions myself. I haven't settled on my new walking schedule yet, but I'm reminding myself that adjusting a routine isn't the same as abandoning it. Sometimes it's exactly what we need to keep going.
So here's to finding a rhythm that works for the season we're in — and be willing to make a few changes along the way.