Life seasons change. Your habits should too.

When the Routine That Worked… Stops Working

The year was 2016. I had just graduated from college and, honestly, my health was at an all-time low. I’d moved back in with my parents with one last summer before starting my first real job, and I knew something needed to change.

For most of my life, sports had been my form of exercise. College took that structure away, and outside of long walks across the University of Illinois campus (shoutout Seniorland and the Quad), I wasn’t moving with much intention. When I thought about “working out” as an adult, I realized I didn’t really know where to start.

The gym felt intimidating. Lifting weights next to my boyfriend at the time felt even worse. So I chose what felt safest and signed up for group fitness classes.

When “Healthy” Starts Sending Warning Signs

Orangetheory quickly became my thing. I felt strong, challenged, and supported. I met great people and, for a while, it genuinely worked. But over time, without realizing it, I started pushing a little too hard. I was underfueling, overtraining, and eventually lost my period. Even though I thought I was being healthy, my body was telling a different story.

That moment forced a pause and a reroute. And looking back, it marked the start of a pattern I’ve seen repeat itself again and again: as life changes, our needs change too.

How My Goals Have Changed at 31

Fast forward to now, in 2026. At 31, my goals look very different. I’m no longer chasing calorie burn or intensity for the sake of it. I care about feeling good, supporting my hormones, and building strength that actually helps me live my life. Most weeks, that means walking, some running, and strength training — nothing extreme, nothing punishing, just movement that fits the season I’m in.

What’s important is this: my old routines weren’t wrong. They were exactly what I needed at the time. They just don’t fit anymore.

What Sustainable Movement Actually Looks Like

One thing that’s helped me relax around all of this is understanding the baseline. Organizations like NASM align with public health guidelines that recommend about 150 minutes of moderate-intensity movement per week, plus two days of strength training. That’s the foundation for health and longevity. Not daily HIIT. Not all-out workouts seven days a week. Just consistent movement, spread out in a way that works for your life.

When you zoom out and look at it that way, the question becomes less about doing more and more about doing what’s sustainable right now.

You’re Allowed to Adjust

And maybe you’re in a season where sustainability looks different than it used to. Maybe you’re healing from an injury, navigating postpartum life, entering menopause, or simply carrying more mental and emotional load than before. If that’s you, hear this: it’s okay if your habits from a year ago, or five years ago, don’t work anymore. Adjusting doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re paying attention.

Wellness That Evolves With You

This is really what we mean when we talk about wellness at @Well. It isn’t rigid or one-size-fits-all. It’s flexible. It evolves. It meets you where you are and gives you permission to redesign your routines as life changes.

Your season will shift again, because it always does. When it does, your wellness can shift with it — without guilt, without shame, and without feeling like you’re starting over.

And if you’re looking for something that supports that kind of flexibility, this is exactly why we created the Anywhere Fitness App. Short, effective strength workouts you can do at home, in the gym, or on the road — designed to help you stay consistent without burning out. It’s movement that supports your life, not the other way around.

You don’t need to do more. You just need habits that fit this season.

XO,

Coach Caroline 

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