Consistency

Malcolm Gladwell popularized the theory that one who spends ten thousand hours will be a master at that particular skill set. Aside from the amazement that someone is spending that much time towards a craft, what I see behind it all is the consistency that is required to show up regularly to chip away at the thing you’re doing. Putting in that many hours into one thing means also means you’re persistent about the thing you’re doing. It means your purposefully setting aside time and energy to learn the thing.

When it comes to fitness, I hear a lot of talk from folks about how hard it is to, “stay in shape”. In reality, a big part of staying fit, isn’t crushing it every day, hitting new PRs every moment, but rather it’s about showing up and being consistent. It’s about not letting a bad day or week derail you from the overall goal. You may not be toeing the line for a triathlon or prepping for a new season of basketball, but you do have to show up every day for life, for your loved ones, and you can’t lose focus of your fitness by not seeing those elements just as important, if not more, than any race or game on a calendar.

For those that are athletes and have games, races, and events that are targets for them, it may be easier to break down the level of being competitively fit and have a stopping point in sight. But for those truly dedicated, training doesn’t stop once the season ends. The intensity may diminish a bit and they’re being looser with their training schedule, but there’s always that baseline of fitness that athletes stay on so that once a new season rolls around, makes it much easier to ramp up to peak performance. That consistency of staying active and fit still remains, just not on a competitive level.

So what breeds consistency? The other popular theory is that it takes twenty one days to create a habit and ninety days for that habit to become a lifestyle. Well I’m sure many people have worked out for three months. But if the 21/90 rule is true, then why do so many fall off the wagon? I think a big part of that is really understanding that discipline of yourself to remain consistent week in and week out. And quite frankly having a penalty to pay is a great motivator in remaining consistent. For instance, if we don’t pay our bills on time, we get hit with late fees. If we don’t go to work, we don’t earn a paycheck and we don’t eat. Pretty big penalties are at stake if we’re not consistent showing up for work. So we’re trained already to have the self-discipline to get up, get out and show up for work. So why not the self-discipline when it comes to fitness? What’s at stake if we’re not consistent there?

I don’t want to sound like I’m on a soap box here. There are definitely days where I don’t want to or feel like working out. I was supposed to out to run this morning. I had the alarm set for six am and everything. But I hit the snooze button a few times and skipped it. Go check my Strava and Garmin for proof. Nary a morning activity. So I definitely have my days where it doesn’t happen. But overall, I know I have to not just because it’s my job, but also because I want to set the example for my clients; because I want to set the example for my family; because I know I’ll feel better mentally and physically when I do work out and be better for those around me. Those things are what keep me disciplined to stay consistent.

So today, I ask of you, I implore you to be more consistent with your health and fitness. It don’t have to be perfect everyday nor every time. But find ways that you impart a bit more healthy ways at being consistent into your routine. Take the stairs, eat a fruit a day, get up and stretch for five minutes every hour, put the phone down and look up more, walk around your neighborhood – all tiny ways that we can be more consistent with being more active. Will it take some discipline? Of course, yes. Maybe you treat it like a job – something you have to do, or maybe you choose to see it as a something you’re doing for others – to be better for them. But create those habits that become a lifestyle and be consistent. Remember, Consistency is greater than perfection! Big, big shout out to everyone I'm working with that have been consistent day in/day out. Perfection doesn't happen without falling down, picking yourself up and trying again. And perfection doesn't happen overnight nor every time. But staying consistent in your actions will breed the results you want in time. If you need that accountability and motivation to get you back to being consistent with your health and fitness goals, reach out and let's get you an action plan to have you show up for yourself more.