Have you ever had one of those days where your routine gets messed up and it completely rattles you?
I had one of those today.
I had to move my run from first thing in the morning to the evening. Some family stuff came up, and I had to change my plans. I hate changing my plans. I get easily rattled — even anxious — if I miss out on my morning exercise. I don’t have much time to myself, I’ve made a lot of sacrifices in other areas of my life, and I already miss out on so much. Right now, I just don’t have the capacity for everything. So when my small bit of time gets taken away, I feel robbed.
The first thing I did was open my calendar and block off 5 p.m. —
“9km run – Johno time.”
But it hung over me the whole day. It made me feel anxious. And as the day unfolded — full of operational and emotional challenges with the business side of The Daily J — I started making excuses not to go. I felt drained by the afternoon, stuck in my own head, not thinking clearly. I even snapped at Juls for no reason. I’m carrying a lot of stress right now, and I didn’t handle the second half of my day well. Honestly, the worst thing I could have done was skip that run.
My last meeting ended at 5 p.m. on the dot. I ran upstairs, threw on my gear, and sprinted out the house and out the estate as fast as I could. The wind was howling, and I almost gave up 1 km in.
But then I told myself:
Toughen the F%$k up. Get to 4km.
So I did.
I counted every street pole until I hit the 4km mark, and then pushed through to the halfway point — the top of Boyes Drive. I felt like I’d just won Comrades. The stress and pressure felt miles away. I ran hard on the way back and got home feeling like a completely new person.
Walking back into the house, I realised what a chop I’d been to everyone before I left. I apologised. And I felt better.
Exercise makes you feel better. It gives you perspective, accountability, and resets your emotional compass.
I took a shower and had two great hours with my kids — chatting, laughing, even baking muffins with them for the morning. We read a story, said a prayer, and I tucked them in.
Here’s my point:
That bit of exercise changed my day.
It changed my approach to the evening.
It gave me clarity.
We’re not perfect — far from it. And tonight proved that to me again. But exercise gave me the opportunity to reset, to be better.
Exercise always makes you feel better, no matter what you’re going through. Pick that route.
Huge love and high fives,
Johno
Totally Inspiring … Thank you for LIVING your Truth … Authentic and open .
Life is real and often … Life is Life-ing …
These moments of sharing is the reflection we all need .
Now … I am going to train !
Happy Thursday
Love this so much!!!!!
Couldn’t agree more – the weight that hangs over you when you cannot make your “slot” is too terrible. Well done for making things right again!
Oh my word Johno! This resonates with me so much and I could’ve written this exactly (well not as well as you) as I’ve had the same struggle often!
Thanks for inspiring us daily. You call us legends, when really we know who the legends are, running through brick walls for us all!
❤️❤️❤️
Love this! Needed to read this today. Thank you
Thanks for the inspiration Johno- I’ve been out of action for 2 and half weeks with bronchitis that turned into a ghost flu. I’m recovered and my aim is to start from scratch. I might just do what you did it sounds like a good plan. I’m still feeling drained from all thought but Sh…..T must be put on plan
Love this Johno! Thank you for sharing.
So true , I always feel great when I do a morning session but it’ doesn’t come naturally yet I still often leave it to the evening. But I will get there … work in progress
That is called leading by example. Thank you so much for inspiring so many of us
Such an inspiring read, thank you for leading from the front, Johno
Thank you for the inspiration recovering from a medical op and just battling to get back into my routine. Battling with my headspace this is what I needed to read
Thanks Johno! Appreciate and keep on inspiring us!