Doing something for the first time? 🍒
Earlier this month, I did something that felt scary—I joined the gym for the first time in 20 years. Since becoming a mum, juggling work, life and two daughters (aged 5 and 3) means my regular workout routine has long been relegated to the back burner.
In the past, I’ve had times when exercise was a regular part of my life, but more recently, I've found it tough to re-establish any consistency. I’ve spent hours researching classes, browsing for new gym gear (Decathlon or Lululemon?!), and trialling a few sessions here and there. But none of that got me to stick with it. Until a few weeks ago, I finally gave myself a firm pep talk, threw out the excuses, and committed.
I didn’t reinvent the wheel; instead, I copied my husband’s formula. He’s been working out 3-4 times a week for as long as I’ve known him—even through the pandemic. His secret? Get it done first thing in the morning (7am when the gym opens) and use an exercise app that keeps him on track (Freeletics), which is now working wonders for me too.
Three weeks in and I’m going twice a week every week. Now I'm not going to be lifting 50kg any time soon, but that's ok. I’m loving it and I'm already feeling stronger!
That First-Time Feeling
When I first walked into the gym, I was hit with a wave of nerves. Picture it: an underground gym, dim lighting, loud music, and a sea of multicoloured dumbbells, kettlebells and massive disc weights. Sensory overload! I felt out of place, self-conscious and had no idea what to do with most of the equipment.
On top of that, my trusty app wouldn’t work underground. After a brief moment of panic, I realised something important—no one was paying any attention to me. Everyone was just focused on doing their own thing. With some trial and error, I figured out that putting my phone in airplane mode let me use the app offline and that simple switch made my second session so much smoother.
By the third session, I was already learning the ropes. I knew the quieter areas in the gym, the best spots to work out and had even started to feel like I belonged there. By the fourth session, I realised I was no longer “someone who thinks about going to the gym”—I was actually someone who goes to the gym. Sure, there are still exercises that challenge me, but now I’m completing 80-90% of my workouts and the confidence I’ve gained is incredible.
The Comfort of Familiarity
This whole experience contrasted dramatically with another “first” this month—sending my youngest to infants school for the first time. Two years ago, I was in a total panic when we did this with my eldest. Now, don't get my wrong, I LOVE the school my girls go to, but there's no denying that the "vuelta" is very last minute. For example, the parents' meeting for my youngest this year was on Tuesday 3rd September and she started her settling in period the very next day!
Back in 2022 with my eldest, I was stressed, scrambling to get everything ready in time. But this time around? I surprised myself at how calm and collected I felt. I’d been through it before and I knew the drill. This reminded me of how much easier things get the second, third or even fourth time you do them. There’s such value in capturing those early learnings and building from there.
Feeling ready to take that first step?
So if you’re thinking of trying something new—whether it’s a workout routine, a career change, a new hobby or even a side hustle—we all need a bit of support at the beginning. If you're contemplating taking on something new but feeling unsure about where to start, get in touch with me. Together, we can explore how to get you moving forward with clarity and confidence.
Or, if you're curious about taking action even when things aren’t perfect, check out my article on embracing imperfect action in pursuit of your goals.
You’ve got this. 🍒