#001: Sweatpants State of Mind
Issue 001: Emotional Reps // The Between Holidays Goal Fog
Welcome to Emotional Reps
Welcome to the first edition of Emotional Reps, where we approach life’s challenges like a gym session for your mind, body, and emotions.
Every issue will guide you through the “workout” of navigating life’s emotional landscapes, offering tools, reflective exercises, and actionable insights to help you uncover the stories driving your responses and align your intentions with your actions.
Why Emotional Reps?
Growth, like strength training, is built through small, consistent reps. It’s not about tackling the heaviest weight or achieving perfection—it’s about showing up, building awareness, and practicing intentionality.
Each issue and game is designed to help you:
- Recognize emotional patterns and default responses
- Understand the stories and beliefs shaping your actions
- Build tools for mindful decision-making and growth
- Reframe challenges into opportunities for intentional alignmentGame #001: The Between Holidays Goal Fog
Scenario:
It’s that weird time between Christmas and New Year’s, where time feels fake, sweatpants are the unofficial uniform, and productivity exists in some distant galaxy.
You feel like you should be doing something… but what?
Welcome to the Goal Fog.
The Question: What Do You Do in the Goal Fog?
Do you:
A. Binge-watch every Netflix show as a personal challenge.
B. Write a spontaneous to-do list for the week—and then misplace it.
C. Use the downtime to reflect: journal, meditate, or do some light planning for January.
D. Overcommit to random tasks to prove to yourself you’re still “productive.”
Warm-Up: What Even Is This Feeling?
The Goal Fog feels like forgetting to stretch before a big lift—your focus is scattered, your routine is shaky, and everything feels slightly off.
You’re caught between holiday indulgence and the pressure of January resolutions.
Life Gym Exercise: Emotional Labeling
What to Do: Pause and name what you’re feeling. “I feel ___ because ___.”
Why It Helps: Acknowledging emotions is like setting your baseline in the gym. It gives you clarity on what you’re working with.
What Your Choice Says About You
A. The Streaming Superfan
What It Means: You’re leaning into rest, but watch out for numbing out. Your brain might need a little creativity or movement to feel balanced.
Workout Equivalent: Skipping leg day because Netflix keeps asking, “Are you still watching?”
Life Gym Exercise: Mindful Break – Spend 15 minutes doing something tactile, like baking, drawing, or taking a walk. These small acts stimulate your brain and bring clarity.
B. The Lost Planner
What It Means: You crave structure but feel overwhelmed by options. Simplify: pick one achievable goal for the day and celebrate completing it.
Workout Equivalent: Wandering aimlessly between gym machines without a plan.
Life Gym Exercise: Mini-Goal Tracker – Write down one small goal for the day and track it. Small wins release dopamine and help you build momentum.
C. The Reflective Realist
What It Means: You’re using downtime to align with your goals and emotions, which supports personal growth. Bravo!
Workout Equivalent: Resting between reps to maximize gains and avoid burnout.
Life Gym Exercise: Pause-and-Reflect Practice – Ask yourself:
“What’s one thing I can focus on today?”
“What am I feeling drawn to in this moment?”
“Does this align with how I want to feel going into January?”
D. The Productivity Prover
What It Means: You feel anxious about “wasting time” and are overcompensating with busyness. But constant activity drains mental energy.
Workout Equivalent: Doing nonstop supersets because you feel guilty about rest days.
Life Gym Exercise: Guilt-Free Rest – Set a timer for 20 minutes and allow yourself intentional rest. Tell yourself, “This rest is fueling my creativity and focus.”
Mindful Lifting: Getting Back to Form
The Goal Fog is your chance to recalibrate. Just like resetting your form in the gym after a shaky set, this is a moment to realign your priorities and intentions. You don’t have to lift the heaviest weight right now—focus on small, intentional movements that prepare you for the next phase.
Life Gym Exercise: Pause-and-Reflect Practice
What to Do: Ask yourself:
“What’s one thing I can focus on today?”
“What am I feeling drawn to in this moment?”
“Does this align with how I want to feel going into January?”
Why It Helps: This exercise clears the mental clutter of trying to “do it all” and helps you stay intentional.
Cool Down: Embrace the Fog
This time of year doesn’t have to be crystal clear. The fog is part of the journey, like walking on the treadmill without worrying about speed. Give yourself permission to slow down, reflect, and recharge. The energy will come back, just like muscle strength after rest days.
Life Gym Exercise: Gratitude Breathing
What to Do: Inhale deeply, and as you exhale, name one thing you’re grateful for. Repeat for five breaths.
Why It Helps: Gratitude rewires your brain to focus on abundance, shifting your mindset from “should” to “enough.”
Miracles in the Goal Fog
This in-between time isn’t about perfect productivity or achieving major goals. It’s about reconnecting with yourself, reflecting on what matters, and showing up in small, intentional ways.
The fog will clear, but for now, embrace the hazy in-between and trust that the small reps you’re doing—whether it’s journaling, resting, or simply existing—are building something powerful for the year ahead.
So, take a breath, enjoy your Netflix binge (or your to-do list moment), and keep showing up, one emotional rep at a time. 💪✨
Good luck, Angels!
2mannymoves