It’s one thing to live. It’s another thing to live the best life you can. It is so easy to just put the autopilot on and move through the day without intention. The holidays have passed and if you were like me on New Years Eve you had that all too familiar conversation with yourself: It’s another year, how should I change? What can I do to be better?
Regardless of how you answered those questions and decided on your resolutions, they will require a commitment to personal growth. You will have to be open to change, have a desire to grow, and a willingness to take action. Sounds daunting, right? The good news is investing in yourself will be the best decision you make toward building a successful and fulfilling life.
Don’t know where to start? Each month I’ll give you my best advice and stories of how I have done it. I will focus on areas like exercise, eating right, career, and little things you can do to live with intention.
As we usher in 2019, let’s tackle the most common resolution, exercising more. Without a doubt exercise reduces stress, improves sleep, improves the immune system and builds self-confidence, all areas critical to achieving your best life. So why do so many of us fail? In one word: habits.
Old habits can be hard to break and new ones difficult to adopt. Many think changing habits is all about willpower. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Changing our habits takes a conscience decision to change the way we do things.
The following 5 tips helped me to go from a sedentary life to daily exercise and eventually to CrossFit.
1. Exercise First Thing in the Morning
After a long day at work, it can be difficult to workout for another hour at the gym. My work can be unpredictable and often by the end of the day I had a million excuses not to go. I found that exercise first thing in the morning was the perfect solution. Personally, I am part of the 5:00 a.m. club.
- Put out your workout clothes the night before
- Eat a light breakfast or shake
- Prepare the stuff you need for work the night before
- Go to the gym or designated space in your home
As fast as you started an hour is up and a step closer towards your goal. Now you have your day in front of you.
2. Hold yourself publically accountable
Commit fully, in a public way. Gaining support from your friends and social networks are paramount in holding yourself accountable. But be careful not to confuse accountable with announcement. In order to drive accountability you will have to report your progress on a regular basis, not just post you are going to do something, follow-up with those loved-by-everyone gym selfies.
3. Focus on Lifestyle
Too often we can obsess over with life–changing transformations. If I loose 100 pounds that would be life – changing versus changing your lifestyle by drinking 8 glasses of water per day.
Do you see the difference?
Life goals provide us direction, but they can also cause us to take on more than we can handle. Daily habits — small, repeatable routines — are key to making life goals a reality.
4. Stick To It No Matter What
Habits are formed from repetition. It is important to exercise at the time scheduled. I have my workouts on my calendar and don’t let anything knock them off schedule. Scheduling saved me when I really didn’t want to work out. It was scheduled and I wouldn’t cancel on a client, so I won’t cancel on myself. On occasions I would have to adjust the time, maybe a quick 10 min home workout, just don’t cancel.
5. Always Remember the Why
We all get off track, especially if we loose sight of why we are working out in the first place. On my drive to the gym, remind yourself why exercise is important to you. Waking up with exercise front and center of your day helps to establish exercise as a priority in your life.
Remember, everyone who has accomplished something meaningful got there through consistent effort and focusing on a goal. So, believe in yourself and know that you can succeed!
