Support your spouse for optimal health & happiness

When you have a spouse or partner, it’s important to support them in their goals–especially when you want the same support back.

It’s not always easy to do when you have busy lives at home and at work. But often your goals are similar. After all, your mutual respect for health, fitness or some other interest is probably what brought you together in the first place. So it’s all about carving out that time just for you as a couple, but also for yourself.

Jeff and I work on our relationship on a regular basis, something I’ve talked about before. Right now, we’re both busy in our careers and with the kids. Some days I feel as if the kids’ activities pull us in four different directions, even with Jack having his license and his own car. There always seems to be a game to watch, a carpool to manage or a meal to be served–at all hours of the day and night. I know that’s not entirely true, but it sure feels that way sometimes!

One of the places we struggle with the most is getting our workouts in. We both value our own health, but there often seems to be something that takes us away (or keeps us from getting up in the mornings).

You know what it’s like. The alarm goes off early in the morning and you snuggle back under the warm covers because you don’t want to put your feet on the cold floor and get up. Or last night was a late night at work so you want to sleep just a “little” bit longer.

It happens, and we’ve all been there. But if you or your partner has a goal of being more active, losing weight or taking care of your health, then getting up for that workout is essential. And supporting your partner means you’ve gained a workout buddy–or some time to yourself when you need it most.

Mutually respecting one another’s time is a healthy way to support one another. Often I’ll crawl out of bed in the morning and gently remind Jeff that he wanted to be up early for his workout too. Or he’ll work out in the evening as I prepare dinner for the family. It’s a give-and-take, like any healthy relationship.

Sometimes that support is as simple as seeing your partner stressed and taking something off his or her plate. Saying, “Take 30 minutes to work out. You’ll be happy you did when you’re done.”

Years ago, Jeff and I did the 21 Day Fix together to support one another. Not only could we nudge one another out of bed, but we were also there to help us stay honest in the meal plan. Because when you’re trying to make a lifestyle change, having someone there doing it with you or helping you through it makes it so much easier in the long run.

Accountability and support is why challenge groups work so well, and why I always recommend having an accountability buddy–whether you have a partner or not. If you would like to join my next accountability group, send me a message!

At the end of the day, it’s so important to support those you care about, in fitness and in life. When they’re happy and healthy, you’ll be happier too.