Most of us want to be healthy and want to exercise, but life just gets in the way. Here are a few things you can do to ensure you won't hit the snooze on your exercise routine - or life!
We have the best of intentions before we go to bed. The alarm is set and visions of starting the day with a healthy routine dance in our heads as we drift off to sleep. Then life happens. The alarm goes off, you didn't sleep well, and it's just too freaking early. Who gets up this early anyway?! Only crazy people. Surely another 10, no 15, no 30 minutes won't hurt anything...before you know it the alarm goes off again and the cycle restarts. When you finally drag your groggy (and now disappointed) carcass out of bed, you're kicking yourself for not exercising and vowing to do better the next day...but will you?
Life can happen for us, if we take a little extra time to ensure some safety nets are in place before vowing to walk the tight rope of starting an exercise routine. Here are a few safety nets you can put in place today to ensure a successful tomorrow.
Recruit to reboot - Find a few friends (one is fine, if they are truly committed) who will meet you at a designated time and place each day. The reason I say a few is to allow yourself options. Maybe you meet with Carolyn every Monday and Wednesday, and Bill on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Laura is your weekend anchor, you meet with her on Saturdays and Sundays. This is just an example, but it shows that even if Bill can't make a week, you still have other friends who can - safety nets. Soon enough, you'll be doing your exercise routine even if a friend can't make it. :)
Commit with cash - Studies have shown that when we pay a little money for something, we are more committed to following through. Find an event that you can set as a goal and get signed up immediately. Why the rush? In my blog article on fear and procrastination I show you how fear feeds on stagnation, procrastination, and excuses. If you wait, you'll come up with an excuse (or twelve of them). The event will pass and you'll be criticizing yourself for not following through. Don't spiral like that, be kind to yourself and take quick and immediate action. :)
Five second count-down - Mel Robbins wrote a great book on a simple trick to get us to move into action. If the bed is just soooooo warm and comfy, immediately start counting down from five. When you get to one, push up with your arms and swing your legs out of bed. It really is that simple. Don't give yourself time to think about it. Go over what you plan to do the night before so you remember in the morning. Getting out of bed is often the hardest part of starting a new morning routine, so congratulate yourself every time you do it. Go the the mirror and give yourself a big high five (also a great Mel Robbins book)! :)
We live in the outcomes of our past choices. In order to create the person you know you want to be, you have to change what you've been choosing. Make a commitment and put some safety nets in place right now...stop reading this and go make it happen!
Sending love,
Faith Joy
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