The Motivation To Exercise Starts From Cues.
Willpower is out. Cues are in.
Very often, we rely too much on our willpower to get ourselves up for exercise.
It could be a trip to the gym, to the pool, to the tennis court or even just lacing up for an evening jog.
The power of our Will is very often, not very powerful.
That is probably why we cannot really depend on it.
Ask any smokers who tried to quit smoking based on sheer willpower.
Or any fried food junkie trying to lose weight.
If it is not willpower, then what can we rely on?
For me, the answer is “cues”.
And I am big fan of cues.
For instance, if I know that I want to head for a swim tomorrow, this is what I am going to do.
I will pack the swimming equipment the evening prior to my session.
And then, I will put spare goggles at my working desk at home, at the working desk in the office, and in the shared locker where I deposit my bag in office.
I constantly remind myself of my swim session using cues (goggles) strategically placed all over where my eyes cannot miss.
That is swimming.
Running is a different ballgame.
With running, motivation comes from proximity.
I find that I have a tendency to not run when I have to travel far to the start line.
It is much easier for truckloads of excuses to infiltrate and takeover my mind when it takes a long while from preparation to start.
I do this.
I keep a set of running clothes near the front door of the apartment before I head to work.
When I come home, I would immediately change into my workout gear and start warming up the moment I shut the gate.
If I am heading for track training, I would search for the nearest stadium from the office and deposit my running attire and shoes there before heading to office.
That way, no matter what happens, I will have to make my way to the stadium to collect my gear before I head home.
This eliminates all excuses from my end.
As with all things in life, a little deliberation goes a long way.
Don’t you think so?
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About the Author:
As a Consultant by training, I believe in making the complex simple.
Because simplicity adds value.
Simplicity helps us gain clarity, and clarity helps us to grow.
And if we are not growing, then what’s the point of anything else?
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