Day 1: The Foundation of Habits

Great achievements are the culmination of a series of successful smaller ones. Those achievements are in turn also comprised of even smaller wins. When I change into my running clothes and step out the door, that is an achievement in my goal of going for a run that day. That run is an achievement in my goal of running a marathon’s distance a month. No greater goal is achieved without the success of its components. As intuitive as this is, the psyche has a way for shrouding our aspirations with a sense of doom, deeming our dreams too monumental to achieve, or the beginning steps as lame. The result is that we devalue those smaller achievements, as if going for a walk leads to nowhere. Humility and modesty are required for setting reachable goals and developing successful habits. In order to envision “one day” we need to act upon “day one.” Jumpstarting a habit requires being proactive; it is becoming a pro in being active.

So, you’ve made the resolution to become more physically active. You’ve seen the myriad of health and psychological benefits, or have drawn some can-do inspiration from my previous blog post and are contemplating the journey of healthy habit-building. There is little more theory to absorb in order to start. Don’t hamstring your ability to act with your ability to think; it’s time to do. There is an overabundance of information online that surgically disects how to start habits in fitness: which are the best fat-burning, muscle-building workouts, the must-knows on proper form, what kind of fitness gear you gotta have, etc. It’ll make your head spin, and might even discourage you from trying at all. I am here to say that it is not so much about how you do your physical activities, but that you just do your physicial activity. Do things wrong! Create a variation that works for you. As you build strength and habit, often the form and function of your excercise routine will converge on more proper technique and a more varied workout.

If you are feeling good and resolute about your lifestyle change after this post, but still don’t know how to start, my next post will cover some fundamental bodyweight fitness activities that you will be able to do anywhere, no gear required.

Thanks for reading!