In a recent podcast episode, I talked to The Sculpt Society Founder Megan Roup about fitness, wellness, and how to avoid burnout. Throughout our conversation, we discussed how committing to less actually allows you to show up for more. While it might seem counterintuitive, I love Megan’s approach to this less committed lifestyle because it helps you find joy in working out and get out of a rigid mindset. I loved her method so much that I wanted to share some of the ins and outs of our conversation for all of you who are experiencing burnout or don’t know where to start when it comes to making a change.

Evaluate the Why

If you’re killing yourself at the gym in hopes to see results, but hate the process, chances are you’re not going to see the changes you want. That’s why it’s so important to evaluate the why. I say this all the time but you can’t hate yourself thin. Your motivation for working out or eating a certain diet should stem from the way it makes you feel, not the changes you hope to see in your body. If you love to dance, then try replacing your sterile workouts with a barre or dance class. If you hate kale, don’t eat it. There are so many different workouts and healthy things you can eat that are healthy, so don’t waste time with the things that don’t bring you joy. It you love your workouts and the things you eat, you’re more likely to stick with it and avoid burnout.

Baby Steps

If you’re hoping to make healthier choices and want to make a change, start small. If you make all these lofty goals like eating healthier, working out five days a week, journaling, and doing all the things at once, you’re most likely going to fail. So, start with baby steps. Maybe you start working out three days a week or maybe you replace eating out one a week with a healthy home cooked meal.

Automate so it Becomes a Habit

We make thousands of decisions every day, so take your goals out of the decision making process by automating them. Schedule your workouts in your calendar as non-negotiables. Lay out your workout clothes or pack your gym bag the night before. If you work out at home, select your workouts in advance. Meal plan so you don’t have to decide what to eat for dinner every night. Do whatever you can so that when it comes time to committing to your goals, you’re less likely to blow them off.

You can listen to the full episode here where we chat more about the internal and external pressures women face, including the models she trains, the postpartum period, and the mental space we waste on hating our bodies.