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An Apple a Day
Wake-up call
Posted by:
juliaperla on
October 15, 2009 at
1:35PM EST
I can usually only go to the gym three times a week, always after work. But to stay toned, I prefer to exercise more than that. So back in January, I started waking up at 5:00 in the morning to do strength-training exercises in my living room.
5:00 is really, really early. I did well for a few months, but my motivation quickly waned. Suddenly the snooze button became much more appealing than rock-hard abs. But I started to feel bad about myself. I had a good thing going, and the results were starting to show. How could I just throw all of that away? Also, I liked using that time in the morning to do other things, not just exercise. I could get some things done around the house and eat breakfast, all before 6:30 a.m. I decided I needed to mix things up a little, create a new source of motivation. So I got a notebook, and every morning I fill out the following fields: Wake-up: [This is the time that I wake up. I try to make it between 5 and 5:30. I'm not exactly sure why I want to document this; it fulfills some sort of psychological need for me, but I can't put to words what it is. So I can look back and feel proud of myself, perhaps?] Accomplishment: [Some sort of chore that I never get around to doing in the evenings. It could be organizing a file cabinet, painting my fingernails, rearranging furniture, whatever. I can only pick one task, because any more than that is unrealistic. And I must be done with it by 5:40 at the latest, so that I have enough time for everything else.] Exercise: [Whatever strength-training exercise I did that day. I try to do something different every day—arms one day, abs the next, etc. I usually only exercise for 30 minutes, but that's enough to get results.] Scripture: [I like to read the Bible in the morning, and I write down which passage I read and a couple of sentences about what I learned from it. Oh, and I always eat breakfast while I read.] For some reason, writing these things down makes it fun for me. And it gives me a proud sense of accomplishment, like I'm documenting that I AM NOT, in fact, a slacker. This specific practice may not work for you, and that's okay. I'm just showing you what I do when I need a boost of self-discipline. We all want to sleep in. We all want to lay on the couch rather than go to the gym. It's part of our nature to want to be lazy. But laziness can lead you down a dark and ugly path. So whenever you feel yourself veering toward that path, just mix up your routine, give yourself incentive, make it fun, do whatever works for you. I'd like to hear what you do to stay motivated! Feel free to comment below.
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