When it comes to my workouts, I like to do a thorough warm-up to really get into my body before I start lifting. Most common advice would say that this is prudent. A good warm-up can prime the body and prevent injury.
Sometimes, lately, I’ve been in situations where for various reasons I’ve ended up doing a shorter warm-up.
What I’ve noticed in those cases is that my workout is often just as good. Sometimes it’s even better.
When I have a day like that, it leads me to question whether my full warm-up routine is really productive or just a form of procrastination and busy work.
The truth is that sometimes the long warm-up can be counter-productive: it can fatigue me for the main show.
Workout routines are just one way this pattern shows up.
For many years, I did the practice of morning pages, where I would free write for a certain amount of time. I stopped the practice when I realized that it was draining me rather than fueling me.
Even “productive” rituals and routines can turn stale and counter-productive.
Periodically, it’s important to stop and assess:
Is this practice serving me, or is it draining my energy for what’s really important?
Sun Conjunct South Node: Shed Unproductive Routines
As the Sun meets up wit the South Node in Virgo (September 10, 2025, 3:19 PM ET, 18º20’), it sheds light on the rituals and routines that are draining our energy.
The South Node is the point where the moon’s path meets the Sun’s ecliptic. When new and full moons happen close to the nodes, eclipses happen. This meet-up of the Sun and the South Node falls in the middle of eclipse season; a season of endings and beginnings.
In ancient times, the North and South Node were described as the head and tail of a dragon. The South Node is a point of release and drain.
This conjunction in Virgo invites us to shed the obligations, busywork, and perfectionism that are draining our energy and interfering with our true goals.
That doesn’t mean you have to completely let it go.
Nobody would advise you to do a hard workout without any warm-up. Instead, ask yourself what’s really necessary. How can you change your routine to reclaim your energy, time, and resources so you have more for what matters most to you?
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