How Minimalism Improves Fitness
Progress through simplicity
As any avid enthusiast understands, regular fitness training leads to a better, healthier you. While everyone’s definition of “better” may differ, one truism endures: it doesn’t have to be complicated, it doesn’t have to be excessive, it just has to be consistent.
The best way to ensure consistency? Perform physical activities you enjoy. You’re much more likely to stay on track if you’re engaged with what you’re doing. Playing volleyball on the beach with friends burns a lot of calories.
I’ve always loved Minimalism for its conceptual simplicity. How you can appreciate negative space as an art form, just as you would a sculpture or painting. How appreciating the value of things rather than quantity repels devils like materialism, greed and dishonesty. How decluttering your environment declutters your mind.
From this, freedom arises.
These are not novel ideas, but ideas often ignored. Staying on top of your fitness and adopting a more minimalist mindset are easy to understand, but not easy to adopt. This starts by identifying points of intersection between fundamental minimalist ideals and cornerstone fitness concepts.
Keep it simple
My fitness philosophy adheres to the K.I.S.S. principle: Keep It Simple Stupid. Don’t do too much. Don’t adjust too quickly. Maintain a manageable training schedule. Focus on the fundamentals, master those skills, then add layers of complexity over time.
Like many, I learned this lesson the hard way. My training used to be hard and fast, neglecting proper rest and recovery. I was obsessed with the latest workout fads, messy training protocols that offered a few fresh ideas but little in terms of meaningful progression. I spent years frustrated and disappointed as overuse injuries continued to derail my development.
Minimalism caught my eye several years ago, coinciding with a rough bout of anxiety. I was fascinated by its guiding principles. How slowing down and simplifying can have profound effects on both physical and mental health. As I started applying these principles to my own life, I found my fitness becoming more purposeful and consistent. I began to exercise because it felt good, because I loved it, rather than because I need to hit a new personal best. The shackles were off.
I started running without specific times or distances in mind. My weight training began to revolve around fluidity of motion and feel rather than pounds on the bar. I picked up hot yoga to learn mindfulness and nurture my spirituality.
When I was tired, I took time off. When I was sore, I cross-trained. Overuse injuries went away. My body became stronger and more resilient. The simpler I made things the more meaning I found. And the more meaning I found the fitter I became.
Maximize value
Many people misconstrue what Minimalism actually is. It’s not about the absence of “stuff”. It’s about maximizing value. About appreciating the people, places and things in our lives, and being deliberate with who (whom?) and what we choose.
I constantly look for value with my fitness. What will give me the best bang for my buck? What will allow me to maximize my time? What will give me the most enjoyment?
This looks different for everyone, and that’s the point. What’s valuable to me isn’t necessarily valuable to you. What’s common among us is the amount of value we place on our activity of choice. In my opinion, running is a truly fantastic use of time. Aside from the obvious health benefits, running allows me to clear my mind, consider life’s critical decisions and reflect on the blessings of life. It’s a form of meditation. For you it might be rowing. Biking. Dance. Basketball. Yoga.
It took me years to figure this out. I chased personal records for a long time. Sacrificed form and function to reach a certain milestone, only to be rewarded with failure time and again.
By learning to pursue value above all else, I not only became more fit, but a more wholesome, complete individual.
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Control your environment
Our environment affects us more than we know. Social beings by nature, we place great emphasis on the people, places and things around us. Motivational speaker Jim Rohn famously said, “We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.” How our environment goes, we go.
Minimalism pays very close attention to environment. How it affects our mood, our mindset, our personality. It is a key feature of the minimalist ethos.
As it relates to fitness, the environment’s construction is irrelevant. Some folks prefer solitude while others prefer group-oriented training. What matters is that environment is a prominent consideration when looking to maximize fitness. Environment can make or break success.
If you’re having trouble, a change in environment may be necessary. Hop off the treadmill and start running outside. Let the wind and the sun and the sounds of the path push you forward. Lift weights at the gym instead of the basement. Join a yoga studio instead of practicing at home. Use the energy of other fitness enthusiasts as fuel.
Take charge of your environment. Bend it to your will instead of the other way around. Put yourself in the best possible situation to succeed.
The secret to progress lies in simplicity. In forgoing complicated training regimens for tried-and-true fitness practices. In cultivating mindfulness. In finding enjoyment in whatever we do.
By keeping things simple, by maximizing value and by controlling our environment, we can lead a life of meaning and significance while staying fit for the long term.
Be strong, be safe, be well.
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