Is it hard for you to exercise regularly? For a lot of my clients the answer is “YES!” They know the benefits; all those great neurochemicals racing around making you feel good, mind-body connection, improved muscle tone & coordination, etc. And yet, despite the benefits people sabotage themselves in a variety of ways. Something came up at work. The kids need this or that for school. A friend needs a helping hand.
When my client is struggling to keep their commitment to their health goals, I ask, “Are your gym clothes on your toilet right now?”
The look of confusion as their neural pathways search in vain for familiarity is priceless.
“Where are your workout clothes?” I ask in a more simplified, yet far less amusing fashion.
“In my drawer”, is the most common answer. Sometimes it might be closer to the goal and be “in the gym bag”, yet it’s still in the wrong place.
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
What is the 1st thing you do when you get up in the morning? For most people, they go to the bathroom and relieve themselves of whatever has been hanging out all night.
So, based on that, where should your gym clothes be? On the toilet seat cover. Why? Because they are obstructing your call to nature. You can’t pee without moving them.
And as long as you are moving them, you might as well put them on, right? Putting your workout gear on your toilet seat is a physical reminder of your commitment to exercise.
If you use a gym bag, make sure it’s by the door obstructing your way out of your home. Don’t put it in the boot/trunk of your car either. It rides shotgun! That’s in the seat next to you. And if you’re not on your way to the gym or already working out, running, swimming or whatever 1st thing in the morning (which is my plan because nothing gets in the way of that plan), then make your gym bag your cubicle buddy. Have its physical presence reminding you of your commitment to health. Hugh Culver, productivity expert and author of the book… even has rules about the gym bag. If it makes it to the office, he must go to the gym (actually, for him it’s a yoga studio).
And when you workout & those neurochemical are making you feel alive & refreshed (even if your exhausted) it’s the perfect time to start the preparation for the next day. Re-pack the bag, put your gym clothes on the toilet and plan for success!
What other goals in your life do you need to have a physical reminder of?
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