How to Get Back into a Healthy Flow

You're probably familiar with that wonderful flow you can be in; hitting the gym a few times a week, eating healthily, and getting good sleep. Then suddenly: flow gone! It usually doesn't happen overnight, but external circumstances can knock you out of your rhythm. Last year, this was noticeable with all the measures that were taken. More stress, working from home, gyms closed, boredom, resulting in the infamous 'corona kilos'. It wasn't made easy for us. But even outside of this unusual situation, there are plenty of factors that disrupt your flow. Stress or difficult personal circumstances are not foreign to us, and even hormonal fluctuations contribute to heightened emotions, fatigue, and eating binges, and that lovely flow is gone. How do you get it back?  

Flow-disrupting Factors 

When you're out of your flow, you can feel restless, lethargic, and easily irritated. You move less, sleep poorly, and perhaps snack more than usual. Of course, sleeping, exercising, and eating healthily are beneficial for your health. But living according to a rhythm and routine also has a positive impact on body and mind. Humans are creatures of habit and naturally need structure and routine in their lives. This provides calm and clarity, reducing the chances of stress and making relaxation your middle name. Even when you're not feeling great, it can help enormously to introduce structure into your day. We offer you a few tips on how to easily get back into your flow. 

Biorhythm 

Different areas in your brain are responsible for your biorhythm, also known as the ‘sleep-wake rhythm’ or ‘circadian rhythm’. This rhythm is strongly influenced by daylight and ensures that you wake up on time and fall asleep again in the evening. Your circadian rhythm always consists of a 24-hour cycle. When your biorhythm is disturbed, sleep problems can arise. To restore your natural biorhythm, you can: 

Just one walk or workout can release chemicals in your body that make you feel good. Not only does exercise help you become mentally stronger, but it also helps keep your body in shape and improves sleep. 

Exercise 

Have you always been an avid exerciser but now really don't know where to find the motivation to get moving? First, take a good look at why you want to exercise. Write it down if necessary so you become truly aware of your motivation. Exercise has so many benefits, and one of the most important is that it can give you a huge mental boost in a very short time. Just one walk or workout can release chemicals in your body that make you feel good. Not only does exercise help you become mentally stronger, but it also helps keep your body in shape and improves sleep. Exercise can also ensure you spend more time outdoors, meet people, or learn new skills. When you are clear about why you're doing it, motivating yourself becomes much easier!  

Buy a set of sportswear! Not only for going to the gym, but also for your daily walk, it's nice to have a special outfit. It's not only important to have comfortable clothing, but it also helps to get into action if you wear something nice and associate certain clothes with a walk or workout. Once you have your activewear on, you're less likely to flop back onto the couch.  

Schedule moments when you want to exercise or move. Start calmly and agree with yourself to start on the same days each week, for example, with 2 x 30-minute walks immediately after waking up or 2 x workouts after work. Pushing yourself to be active seven days a week can be demotivating, and you'll see that if you start slowly, you'll naturally notice your body asking for more. By scheduling your workout on the same days each week, you create rhythm and routine.   

Nutrition