Sustaining Progress: Building Habits That Keep Us Moving Forward

We all have our ways of staying on track, striving to be our best selves even though that target always seems to move. 

For me, it’s movement — working out. 

Sure, there’s a vanity component. I won’t pretend I don’t want to still fit into the wardrobe I’ve curated over the years. 

I’m the kind of person who can take one shirt and style it 50 different ways, transforming it from casual to eclectic, to sexy or even fancy. Clothing offers so much creativity, helping you express your mood and send a message. But I digress.

Mentally, to keep myself on track and pursue my goals, I challenge my mind through movement. Believe it or not, working out does not come easily to me at all. Maybe that’s why I’ve chosen it as the foundation for everything else. 

I am not a natural runner, flexibility is not my thing and riding a bike? Let’s just say it’s never been second nature. 

And please, don’t read this and think I’m a healthy person in the typical sense. I have my share of bad habits. I love me some potato chips, and if you want to see the biggest smile on my face and eyes light up, bring me a bag of Twizzlers. 

But that’s not why I do all of this — it’s not about health in the way many others approach it. I do it for every other reason that falls under health and wellness but in a different way.

We all know the science behind how movement releases happy hormones. 

Runners don’t often seem bogged down by obstacles, and those who practice yoga bring a calm approach to life’s challenges. 

I know my mental struggles — fear of failure, feeling stuck or pushing so hard that I forget to enjoy the journey. So, I’ve created habits to overcome these challenges, challenges I know many of us share.

And as I’ve said before, Mill Creek Park is one of our greatest assets in the community, and it’s also one of the toughest road and trail runs I’ve ever experienced. 

I’ve run the Appalachian Trail in West Virginia, trails in Wilmington, roads in Cape Cod, Boston, D.C., Virginia and many other places, but Mill Creek remains the most challenging. This is why I believe we have the best runners. 

It also shows that I definitely don’t do what I do to keep up with the rest.

I run on the road to free myself, push my limits and soak in all the world has to offer. It grounds me and makes me feel connected and free, all at once.

I ride the Peloton to remind myself that even when you feel like you’re going nowhere, you are actually moving forward. 

Trail running teaches me to focus, to carefully plan each step, mapping out where my feet will land to avoid falling. 

And then there’s yoga. 

Yoga took me the longest to embrace because being present and at peace when my mind wanders so easily was difficult. But it taught me to stay in the moment, to glide through each pose and, when it’s over, to appreciate stillness rather than dreading the time spent not being “productive.”

Now, this doesn’t mean I never stumble. 

There are days when I walk during a long run, shorten my time on the Peloton or lose focus on the trail. It happens. But I keep going. 

These habits aren’t just about pushing my body–they’re about training my mind to keep moving forward, even when it feels like I’m stuck or outside my comfort zone. Without these routines, I wouldn’t be present for everything else in my life. 

And yes, still fitting into my clothes is a great bonus, but in truth, I need these habits for everything else they give me.

This is from me to you. I would love to know some habits you’ve incorporated to push yourself, stay in the moment, and keep calm. Let’s face it, we all know my knees are going to give out one day, and I’m all about preparing for substitutions to keep my mind moving forward.