If you are a woman over 40 trying to build your fitness and muscle, you know how important it is to get into the gym on a regular basis. But if you struggle to find the consistency or motivation to exercise, you are definitely not alone. I find consistency as one of the most common things my clients struggle with, but it doesn't have to be that way. Key Takeaways If You Are Curious About Essentialism, Try:  Taking time to decide what is truly important for you Saying no to the things that you do not want to do Doing fewer things but doing them better Adding Instead of Taking Away A lot of things in the health world are focused on removing or distancing yourself from a thing. Exercise is certainly not that way, and it requires you to lean in when it comes to changing your health habits. Although exercise takes time, energy, and space in your daily calendar, adding it to your life consistently is going to help you achieve the results you are looking for. All 24 Hours Are Not the Same While there are 24 hours in a day, each of us has our own schedule, timeline, and ability to prioritize exercise. Finding the time, space, and motivation to be consistent isn't necessarily easy, but by asking yourself the right questions, you can identify what's important, what you may want to say no to, and, ultimately, how to live more aligned with your values. The #1 most underrated concept when it comes to helping you find more time, which can, in turn, help you increase your consistency with training, is essentialism. There is a counterintuitive reason why finding consistency with your workouts is so hard, especially as a woman over 40. Have you ever approached your fitness with an essentialism mindset? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page. In This Episode Behind-the-scenes update of what to expect in the coming months on my training platform (2:47) Why exercise does not follow the standard ideal of health change (7:43) Understanding essentialism and why it may help you assess your life (9:50) Questions you can ask yourself as a thought exercise to guide your actions (13:04) How to implement the principles of essentialism into your own life (15:25) Quotes “It has been extremely gratifying to really bring those of you over 40 who are looking to improve your strength, muscle, and fitness, and feel strong. To really bring you a comprehensive program that is going to tick the boxes that we need as women over 40.” (3:47) “If you are feeling challenged with consistency, I promise you you are not alone in feeling what you are feeling.” (4:52) “Exercise cannot be accomplished through subtraction, elimination, or avoidance.” (8:33) “Exercise is a form of self-care. We are taking care of our health.” (15:12) “Ultimately, we all don't have the same time in our day. But by implementing the principles of essentialism, hopefully, you can carve out just a little bit more for yourself.” (17:47) Featured on the Show Strong With Steph Info Page Apply for Strength Nutrition Unlocked Here Essentialism by Greg Mckeown Full Show Notes Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH (20% off your first order, double points on follow-up orders Get 10% off GORUCK with code FUELYOURSTRENGTH Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes! Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative Rate and review on Apple Podcasts Related Episodes FYS 410: The Power of Intrinsic Motivation in Fitness FYS 408: Growth Mindset in Fitness