Top 5 Practices For A Jumpstart to 2024
It’s the start of a brand new year and we all know this is typically a time in our culture to up our health game by making resolutions, starting gym memberships, and going vegan. And by the way, there’s nothing wrong with any of those things. But the benefits of those actions, only lasts as long as the actions do. While the topic of resolutions seems so divisive these days, what everyone can utilize is a plan of attack. Let’s focus on how to make these actions sustainable.
Commit to the journey, not perfectionism.
Do you think Arnold Schwarzenegger never missed a workout? Or never “cheated” on a meal before? I can’t say that I was with him for his training days, but I can bet at some point, he did. But did that cheat meal or did that missed workout define his year and stop him from being one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time? That answer is no. You’re not Arnold. And you probably don’t want to be. So don’t hold yourself to a standard that even he didn’t hold himself to.
Get to the “beef” of why you are committed.
Context matters. There was an experiment cited by Dr Andrew Huberman about a rat that runs voluntarily while the other is forced to run on a running wheel. Spoiler alert, the rats who voluntarily exercised reaped more physiological benefits than the ones who were forced to exercise.
What does that mean for you? If you develop your why, you won’t be forcing yourself to do the thing. You’ll be voluntarily doing it. And that means, you’ll actually enjoy more fruits from your labor.
Go on your journey with a friend or a guide.
The philosophy that shaped the name of our gym is that there is no such thing as a self-made human. We are all products of relationships that we have encountered on our way. Humans (especially homo sapiens) are a social species. When we set out to accomplish a task or reach a fitness goal, it is always more likely that we will get farther with the help of another human being. Whether that’s a trainer, health coach, Facebook group, or a friend who has your back, do hard things with someone else!
Take notes each week on your progress.
I can’t tell you how important keeping a journal is to your success. It is too easy for our brains to think about scarcity, to think about what we haven’t done yet. That is why you MUST have a practice of writing down some of the actions you took or mile markers you have hit along the way. The longer you are on the journey, the more important this step. Don’t be a judge; be a cheerleader.
Do more. Think Less.
We are in the information age people! I don’t know if you know this, but there is no shortage of articles, Youtubes, documentaries and more about what we “should” be doing for our health. This information overload leads us to overwhelm and to underdo.
In all my years of being in the fitness industry, I have a couple of gym goers from my first training job that were the prime example of “do more, think less” mentality.
I used to be the first trainer to open up the gym at 5 AM. And not too after me would be these two women who were probably mid sixties and 120lbs overweight. They came at the same time just about every weekday, grab a towel and head to the treadmill. They may have walked for 20 minutes and then went on with their day. Nothing fancy, but oh were they consistent. I think about how much more movement they did by going at their pace and by not overthinking it!
No matter what you are aspiring to this year, make it sustainable. And of course, if we can help in any way, even if it’s just to listen, let us know!
Author:
Rachel Martin
Owner, Connection Wellness Center
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified IMPACT Life Coach
