Navigating the Seasons of Your Journey
Just like the seasons of the year—winter, spring, summer, and fall—your life moves through different phases. Some seasons feel bright and full of energy, while others might feel more challenging, cold, or chaotic. Your fitness journey is no different.
There will be seasons when you’re fully “on it”—motivated, focused, and crushing your goals. But then there will be other seasons where life happens. Family, work, health issues, kids’ sports schedules—all the real-life stuff that can make sticking to your routine feel overwhelming. And here’s the truth: there will never be a perfect time.
If you’re waiting for life to calm down so you can finally prioritize yourself, you’ll be waiting forever. The reality is that life will always throw curveballs. So instead of waiting for the perfect moment, it’s about learning how to adapt to each season you’re in.
The “Busy Season”
Maybe you’re in a season where life feels hectic—work deadlines, family responsibilities, or even a sick loved one needing your attention. It’s easy to feel like your fitness goals need to take a back seat. But instead of completely falling off the wagon, ask yourself….. “What small adaptations can I make?”
Shorter workouts- Instead of your usual hour-long session, maybe you can do a 20-minute home workout.
Daily movement- If formal workouts aren’t possible, focus on daily movement like walking the dog or taking the stairs.
Easy nutrition tweaks- Instead of trying to overhaul your diet, make small changes like prioritizing protein or adding more veggies to your meals.
The “Growth Season”
In other seasons, you might feel energized and ready to push yourself. Maybe the kids are back in school, work has slowed down, or you’ve found extra time in your week. This is the time to challenge yourself!
Setting new goals- Use this season to push for new personal records or finally start that program you’ve been eyeing.
Dialing in nutrition- If life feels less chaotic, focus on meal prepping or experimenting with new recipes that fuel your body.
The “Healing Season”
Injury, illness, or burnout might usher in a season where you need to focus on recovery. And that’s okay—this is part of the process too. Healing is a form of progress.
Prioritize rest- Instead of feeling guilty about not working out, embrace this season as a time to heal and recover.
Gentle movement- If you’re able, focus on low-impact exercises like stretching, yoga, or walking to keep your body moving without overdoing it.
Your journey will also pass through different seasons based on your goals. Understanding the purpose of each season is key to long-term success.
Fat Loss Season
In a fat loss season, your primary focus is creating a calorie deficit, prioritizing strength training, and maintaining your protein intake. But remember—you can't stay in a perpetual state of fat loss. Constantly striving to lose weight without giving your body a break can lead to burnout, plateaus, and health issues.
Fat loss seasons should be intentional and temporary. It’s important to shift out of this phase when it’s no longer serving you.
Bulking Season
When you’re in a bulking season, the goal is to build muscle, which requires eating in a calorie surplus and increasing your strength training volume. This is not the time to worry about scale weight going up—in fact, you want to see that number increase as it signals muscle growth.
Embrace this season, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. Bulking is essential for long-term muscle development, which supports your metabolism and helps you look leaner when you return to a fat loss phase.
Maintenance Season
Maintenance is the often-overlooked season, but it’s just as important as fat loss and bulking.
In a maintenance season, you focus on staying consistent with your habits without aiming for drastic changes. This is a great time to give your body a break, recover, and enjoy the lifestyle you’ve built.
Maintenance isn’t just coasting—it’s the foundation of long-term success. Learning how to live in this phase comfortably allows you to sustain the results you’ve worked hard for without the pressure of a deficit or surplus.
Your Journey is Unique to You
Every season is different, and every person’s journey will look different as well. The key is to recognize where you are, adjust accordingly, and remember that no season lasts forever.
If you’re in a busy season, don’t throw in the towel—just scale back. If you’re in a season of growth, push yourself. If you’re in a fat loss or bulking season, embrace the process. And if you’re in a season of maintenance, enjoy the balance you’ve achieved.
It’s not about being “perfect” in every season; it’s about being consistent over the long haul. Consistency doesn’t mean doing everything all the time—it means doing what you can, where you are, with what you have.
Your fitness journey is a long one, and it’s meant to ebb and flow with the rest of your life. There will be ups and downs, busy times and quiet times, periods of strength and times when you need to heal. Embrace each season for what it is, and know that with the right mindset, you can keep moving forward—no matter what life throws at you.
If you want to hear more, check out the podcast episode we did on this topic below.