As I write this, it’s the 20th of January, and I’ve been to the gym (or working out) for 19 days straight (I knew I wasnt going to the gym on new years day). This is surely the longest tracked streak, and probably up there in terms of length in all my bouts of going to the gym. I’ve found that the best time for me to go the gym is in the morning before work. Admittedly, it’s not always easy to go to the gym at this hour but I make it happen on about 5-6 days during the week. I usually give myself one day off during the week in the morning, and I run that afternoon.
The one thing that I’ve been noticing is that it sucks getting up all the time. I’m not talking about waking up, I’m talking about taking the action of getting out of bed. We all know that getting out of bed is probably the worst thing ever - and even more so when the weather is cold. After my battles in december with myself on getting out of bed (which I mostly lost) I gave my workouts more thought around christmas time and I knew that I had to figure out some sort of gimmick to get myself out of bed, because once I’m out of bed and ambulatory, I do just fine and make it to the gym.
I settled on the easy workout. I do a series of 4 workouts, two muscle groups at a time except for one day where I just do one. The workout where I just do 1 muscle group rotates, but the workout is always the same: legs. This workout takes way less time and isn’t nearly as rigorous as the rest of my workouts. So whenever I wake up and I’m having a lot of trouble making it out of bed, I just tell myself that I’m doing the legs workout that day, and after a minute or two I drag myself out of bed. Even though I may not actually end up doing the easy work out, getting out of bed is all that matters (for me). Once I’m out of bed, I’ll grab one of the scraps of paper I’ve got my workouts written on and head off to the gym, and it usually isnt the easy workout, I usually save that for the end of the week. I dont want to “burn” it on a monday.
The thing is, once I can get out of bed, I know that I could get to the gym, so I’ve learned to leverage that. I know that once I’m out of bed, I can get to the gym, so I’ve been trying to trick myself every day that I dont want to get out of bed (this is about 1 of every 3 days). I tell myself that I’m doing the easy workout (wether I am not) and that helps me get out of bed and head to the gym.
Readers: Do you use special tricks to get yourself to workout, or do you just try and force yourself all the time? Do you think something like that would work for you? If so, what habit(s) could you leverage (like my not getting back in bed after I get up) to make this goal a success?
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
My wife controls the alarm clock. That means that when it goes off at 5am, if I told get out of bed to turn it off, I will wake her up. She typically gets up at 6:30, so I force myself to get out of bed and turn the alarm clock off. This means I’m already out of bed. I also have a timed coffee pot, which means that I know I have a fresh pot of coffee waiting for me when I get up at 5am. It is generally enough motivation.
MoneyforCollegePro recently blogged about 2011 Forbes 15 Richest Fictional Characters
I like the timed coffee pot, even though I dont drink coffee, it’s probably nice to know you’ve got something to look forward to.
I’ve set a goal of working out three times a week which I have done so far this year (and I did it this morning so that’s a good start to this week). I have an exercise bike that I use and my newest strategy is to watch a movie while I exercise. So far, that seems to be paying off and hopefully it will last until spring when I can start walking and riding my bike through the neighborhood.
Money Beagle recently blogged about Making One Good Decision Is The Key To Everything
that’s a pretty awesome strategy beagle! Great that you’ve set a goal that it totally reachable and you can even enjoy yourself while doing it!
I once read a technique someone else used that I thought would work well for me. This person put her alarm clock in the bathroom so she had to get out of bed to turn it off.
I actually tried that in college when I lived in the dorm. Unfortunately, the room was so small that I could reach the alarm clock cord, pull the alarm to myself in bed, and shut it off without ever getting up.
This post has actually given me food for thought. On the weekends, I’ll sometimes make it a point to go to the gym as soon as I wake up. It just feels great to get the workout over with early and have the rest of the day to myself (and, let’s face it, there are just times that work sucks the energy out of me and I don’t want to work out). If I could get out of bed by 6 a.m., I think I’d have enough time to do my workout, shower, and look presentable by 8 a.m. (Plus, getting ready at work has the added bonus of giving me a bathroom with an outlet and no worries of waking David up when I use the hair drier.) Definitely something for me to think about. (I’d just have to make myself go to bed at a decent hour.)
Also, way to go on the 19 workouts in a row! That’s awesome! And I like that your “rest day” is just a workout later in the day instead of a complete day off from the gym.
Katie recently blogged about Rededicating myself to the (health) cause
I’ve found that if I get up early and get a workout in, ill feel better at night, and it will help me get tired at the time I need to be to go to bed early (like 10). My “rest day” is usually a 3-4 mile run, as I’m priming for my marathon training, which I’ll start next monday.
You’re a machine! I’m going to bed at 10 p.m. tonight, hoping to get up at 6 a.m. and go to the gym in the morning!
Katie recently blogged about Rededicating myself to the (health) cause
good luck.
I’ve just started my quest to exercise three mornings per week – so far so good.
Like you, the hardest part is getting out of bed. It wouldn’t matter if I swore an oath under punishment of death the night before, when that alarm hits, my clever brain and body work together to keep me in bed.
My wife gets up before me and I rely on her to coax me out.
The waking up is actually more of a challenge than the exercise. If I master that, the other will fall into place.
John | Married (with Debt) recently blogged about Meal Plans Sample – $200 for 2 Weeks
I’d have to agree – the workout isnt all that hard for me (yet, im expecting it to get worse when my marathon kicks in) and getting out of bed is the toughest part. It has taken ages for me to figure out how to stop this, but this has seemed to work pretty well.
The easiest way I have found to get myself out and moving (besides my job). Is having a set of clear and well defined goals.
The biggest issue I see in the fitness world is that people want to workout and “get in shape”, but don’t take the time to set specific goals, put them on a deadline, and actually write them down.
It may seem like a small thing, but you’d be surprised how powerful this can be in terms of getting you moving. Especially when you are seeing real progress with your programs. I still do this, even as a trainer with a lot of experience.
Another trick, when you don’t feel like working out, is to do something small. For example, if you just tell yourself to do 10 quick push-ups, you’d be surprised how often that it can motivate you to move forward and complete an entire workout.
Thanks for the thought provoking article!
I agree that goals are a major problem. “getting fit” or “getting in shape” or “losing weight” are terrible goals. They have no end date, no reward, etc. I agree that writing your goals down is a great way to remember them – I still refer to my sheet of paper for my 2011 goals often.
Great point on the small trip to get yourself to work out. That’s what my easy work out is. I just tell myself that I’ll only have to do this, and it makes it easier for me to get up (and usually switch workouts on myself.
I find it very hard for me to go. My gym is a little far (like 15 miles) and if I can’t get the willpower to go, then I don’t
I may be older than many of your commenters, but at 51 I find I cannot run daily. Oh, I can, but my lower back starts complaining if I do that, so I run 3-4 times a week, but never more than 2 days in a row?
My secret sauce to exercise? I love the endorphine rush…my mood stays up most days when I run consistently. I have recently purchased a recumbent exercise cycle that I am using for my off days (because I do want to continue to stay healthy at my advanced age
)
Thad P recently blogged about Writing for An Audience of One
Great point thad! The rush from working out is awesome. I cant run everyday either (I dont much like running) but i’ve found I can go every other day and still feel ok.
I’m the same way- I’ll designate it an “easy” day, or I’ll tell myself I can just work out at home using the kettlebell, dumbbells, etc. I have here. Once I’m up and moving, I’m usually more motivated anyway, so it works well!
agreed – once you’re actually into the workout or whatever, i’ve found its much easier to keep going. The hard part is starting, of course.
That’s pretty impressive Jeff. I’ve been going around 4-5 times a week since January and it’s working out pretty well. I go during lunch though. In the morning, the baby usually wakes up first and we all jump out of bed pretty quickly after that.
retirebyforty recently blogged about HARP 2.0 Is Not Working For Us
Thanks joe – that’s awesome that you go at lunch – I was able to do that exactly 1 time, and didnt really see the benefit. There was more people than I thought would be there, and I felt rushed.
I set up a home gym years ago. I added a treadmill and mag trainer for my bicycle. I prefer bicycling outdoors in good weather which is most of the time in southern California. I try to work out six (6) days a week when I am off or at least 3-4 times when I am working.
krantcents recently blogged about The 3 B’s of Success
KC –
that is awesome for a home gym, and like you i’d rather exercise outside (running esp), but I dont get the great weather that you get. I’ve also found that it’s easy for me to ignore if I have a home gym. I will tell myself there’s always “later” and then never do anything
I really dislike working out, but I did go boarding for 2 hours today and yesterday and play 2-3X tennis a week.
I just do situps and pushups. Everything else be damned!
Financial Samurai recently blogged about Credit Card Enlightenment: Hobbies Are Expensive!
Tennis is great cardio, and so is snowboarding! I dont do any situps or pushups, but am thinking I should start.
I do a cardio kickboxing class 5 days a week at my husband’s work. My motivation is that during those 45 or 1 hour classes I don’t have to pay attention to my children at all! They come with me but unless they hurt themselves I will not talk to them. That time is my time. They have been going with me since they were born so they know that when the cardio music is on they have to play quietly and leave mom alone. As a stay at home mom with a husband who work 55+ hours a week the me time is motivation enough to keep it up.
That is awesome that you go to class and get to focus, and even better that your kids let you have some fun.
I’ve never been able to work out before work, I hate it when the shower “doesn’t take” as George would say.
The best way I’ve found to get me to work out is to tell folks at work that I’m going to the gym that night. It being a fairly healthy office, I do usually get asked the next day, especially if you make a stink of it or it’s part of a goal that you publicly stated. The public commitment is a strong driver of behavior. They’ve done studies with people going door to door, if they get you to agree just to vote (not for anyone in particular) they have something like a 60% better chance of you putting a sign in your yard.
That’s a pretty good idea – a little social pressure for the next day and it seems to work for you!
I look forward to waling daily as both a stress reliever and exercise. The weather is so perfect now ( central florida) I hate to stay inside. It would be different if I lived in colder climate.
Lisa @ Cents To Save recently blogged about Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall Visit
you’re lucky that the weather is nice – it just snowed here today!
Congrats on the streak. That’s great.
My hubby and I work out before work 5 days a week. We really like how good we feel heading to the office. Plus I like how consistent we have been able to be.
Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter recently blogged about What Buddhism Teaches Us About Personal Finance
that is awesome that youv’e been able to stay consistent!
I do pretty well at getting going most mornings. I do either Nordic Track (twenty plus year old machine) or lift weights or p90 x. I probably work out 5 days a week on average. Trying to get in a short work out in the evening a couple of days a week, cause I’m trying to drop 15 lbs….
Dr Dean recently blogged about Educate Yourself: Free!
Good luck on your goal dean – p90 is a pretty good program from what I hear!
Just body-weight exercises for me (pull-ups, pushups) plus kettle weights. I do them in the early morning at home in between blogging and coffee and morning puttering around.
101 Centavos recently blogged about Redneck Dividends
19 Days straight? That’s some streak you got going there. You must be exhausted.
I really want to go to a sports conditioning class tomorrow, but it’s in the evening. If I don’t drag my butt out of bed as soon as I wake up and hit the gym, I probably won’t go at all. Tomorrow morning is probably a good time for Tabata intervals. Ugh! Where’s my daggum timer?
Shawanda @ You Have More Than You Think recently blogged about Why I Quit My Job
I don’t let my brain talk to me. It’s a very bad influence.
Getting up is my first struggle, getting on the running shoes is the second. My mantra is, ‘get on your shoes, get on your shoes,…’
Molly (Mike and Molly’s House) recently blogged about Homemade Ravioli
totally agree – once my workout clothes are on, its about 99% chance im headed to the gym.