Before we get started, I’d like to introduce you to Alexander’s Hope, a nonprofit organization focused on spreading organ donation awareness. They are a fantastic team with an amazing mission. Learn more at the end of this newsletter.
Building a daily fitness habit is extremely simple and extremely complicated at the same time. It’s simple because being active every day isn’t hard. It’s complicated because consistency is easy in theory but difficult in practice.
Habits are interesting creatures. They tend to move in only two directions: forwards and backwards. You’re either reinforcing the habit, in turn straightening your area of focus, or you’re undermining its development, cutting off progress at the knees. There really is no maintaining the status quo when it comes to habitual behavior.
Nowhere is this more evident than with health and fitness. If you don’t stick to your weightlifting program, not only will you not get stronger, you’ll get weaker. If you don’t keep up with your running, not only will you not get faster, you’ll get slower.
Building a daily fitness habit is not just about moving forward. It’s about making sure you don’t lose what you’ve worked so hard for.
Here’s how to make sure that doesn’t happen.
1. Know what purpose fitness serves
Everything starts with your “why”.
Why are you training in the first place? What’s your reason? Your root motivator? Without an established “why” you’ll never get fitness (or anything else for that matter) to stick.
It took me years to understand why some days I was in love with fitness and other days I wasn’t. Some days I’d burst out of bed ready to tackle the day’s workout, other days I’d walk around with a storm cloud over my head, training out of obligation rather than desire.
I hadn’t yet found my “why”.
Once I did, training simply became part of my day to day. No external motivation or encouragement needed.
Whatever drives you, find it and run with it. There will be fewer storm clouds after that.
2. Train according to your vision, not someone else’s
Oftentimes we’re pressured by friends and family into a specific mode of operation. Work this type of job, live in this city, maintain these hobbies, etc. People take comfort in convincing others to make life choices that mirror their own.
I had a workout partner a few years back launch at me when I suggested modifying our training program. “Why do you want to wreck a good thing,” he said. I had one vision, he had another. Me putting forth a differing opinion was to (apparently) insult the vision he had for himself.
People will fight tooth and nail to validate the choices they make. Don’t let it be at your expense.
If your not feeling in tune with your workouts, ask yourself this, “Am I training the way I want to be training? Am I doing the things I want to be doing?” If not, well there’s your starting point.
Don’t force a vision of fitness that isn’t yours. You’ll only find resentment, not salvation.
3. Surround yourself with like-minded people
I’m someone who thrives off the energy of others.
I prefer to be in an environment conducive to the task at hand, where others are engaged in similar pursuit. This includes working at the office (for the most part), studying at the library, or training at the gym.
I attribute a lot of my physical development over the years to the fact I was surrounded by other, similarly-driven fitness enthusiasts.
These are the type of people you need to surround yourself with. Even the most disciplined and diligent among us will find themselves more committed when inspired by others.
So, if you ever feel like fitness is a debilitatingly lonely practice, especially these days, ask yourself, “Where’s my fitness community?”
If you don’t have one — find one.
4. Not every workout needs to be an all out fight
One of the biggest misconceptions is that fitness needs to be all hard all the time for it to be worthwhile.
Patently untrue.
While I’m not suggesting go-getters like David Goggins or Jocko Willink don’t serve a purpose (they’re ability to inspire and motivate is second to none), maintaining a daily fitness habit can’t include pushing yourself to the brink every day. Aside from the physical burnout you’d certainly experience, the mental exhaustion would negatively impact other parts of your life.
I don’t run every day. Ignoring the sheer amount of time it takes for me to get ready, warm up, train, and cool down (we’re talking minimum 90 minutes), if I put feet to pavement 365 days a year my body would fall apart like an old log cabin in the woods.
For those of you than can and do, I’m envious.
Instead, I focus on getting something in every day. A run, a walk, a lift. Even shoveling snow in the winter. Something where the blood flows, the heart pumps, and the mind clears.
In this capacity, working out every day is not only doable, but relatively easy.
Consistent fitness is a habit. Period.
Fitness isn’t a gift some people are granted and others aren’t. It’s not rooted in magic.
It’s literally nothing more than the act of moving your body enough to warrant a shower. Some days, the passion will flow. Other days, you’re trying to catch a fish without a worm. That’s just the way it is.
All that matters is you show up, put in the effort, and give it your best shot.
Then, show up again tomorrow, and the next day, and so on.
Alexander’s Hope is a nonprofit organization aimed at spreading awareness and alleviating misconceptions about organ donation. 95% of Americans claim they support organ donation, yet only 54% of Americans are currently organ donors – Alexander’s Hope aims to shrink that gap drastically.
Alexander’s Hope aims to give hope to those still waiting on the organ transplant list. They believe everyone should get the opportunity for a second chance.
To learn more about the work being done by an amazing team of dedicated individuals, click the button below.