Supercharged Will Power

The hardest part of getting started on a new fitness program is getting started on a new fitness program. The momentum of whatever you’ve been doing is so great that it’s usually too difficult to change your daily routines. Luckily there are some ways to trick yourself into making it easy.

Pieces
If you’re sitting on the coach at 6pm and you think about working out, just stand up. That’s it. Can you stand up? Ok, good. Next tell yourself to pack a gym bag. Walk over to the closet and put your sneaker, shorts, and shirt in a bag. The point is don’t think about the entire task of getting to the gym and working out, just focus on the next step. Open the front door. Step into the car.

By focusing on just the next step, you make it easy to do. Don’t focus on designing a fitness plan, you won’t ever follow. Just step on the treadmill and walk for 5 minutes. Tomorrow make it 10.

Punishment
If you told yourself that you would walk a mile tomorrow, and then you don’t forget about trying to make up for it the next day. If you couldn’t muster up the will power to walk a mile, how on earth will you do two the next day. Instead, the following day walk a half mile. If that doesn’t happen than a quarter. Cut it in half until it’s manageable. Maybe you walk for two minutes. then four the next day. Make it easier to start not harder.

Avoid Lazy Friends
People that are lazier than you will pull you down to their level. Talk to people that are already exercising. Ask them when they are going to the gym. The members of my gym that workout with a friend are twice as likely to reach their goals.