Put an End to the "I'll Start Next Week" Cycle

Not all that long ago was stuck in a loop. I was constantly saying "tomorrow will be different"  "next week will be different" and sometimes it even went into "next month will be different" or "after the new year will be different.” 

I would make this plans, these grand plans go the gym X amount of times each week and make all of these healthy recipes that I was finding on Pinterest. What happened was, just after a few days, Monday or Tuesday I would get overwhelmed and I would give up. Time would go by and I would continue the same cycle. 

It was so defeating and ultimately I realized I was self sabotaging

​Not sabotaging myself once I started the plan, but the plan itself was the problem. I didn’t take into account how I would for real integrate it with my life.

Everything changed when I committed to doing something very different than my norm prior to becoming a mom. I committed to doing 15 to 20 minutes everyday from my home. I knew I could do that with my son around.  Even when I didn’t feel like it, I could talk myself into it because it was only 15 minutes and I didn’t have to go anywhere.

When finally I committed to doing something everyday I created consistency.  

Instead of, for example, saying I was going to workout for an hour at the gym, then feeling like a failure because I couldn't do it, I set this achievable goal.  I decided on something I KNEW I could do everyday.

That relatively small commitment and consistency was exactly what I needed. It fed on itself, provided momentum.

We've been talking a lot lately about the idea of decision making fatigue and how we, as moms just have so much going on. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of thoughts that fly through our heads each day.  Decision making is directly connected to willpower and we only have a finite ability to do both each day.

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When you're tired at the end of the day, it’s way too easy to default to the “ah-F-it” and “tomorrow will be different” mentality.  

Ya’ll this means...even deciding whether or not you are going to do that workout because you are so tired is making you tired!

Creating consistency with a relatively small commitment accomplished a few things for me.

1. Doing it consistently turned it into a habit.  Adding intentional movement to my day eventually became something I did without really thinking about it.  The beauty of turning your priorities into habits is that they become “no-brainers” and bypass that part of your brain that has to think about. It frees up some of the mental junk and your priority gets done.
2. Exercise has a profound affect your willpower reserve.  Yes, your ability to make decisions and use willpower in a day is finite, but there are things you can do to increase it.  Study after study have proven that consistent exercise actually increases your willpower reserve. The bottom line: people who start regular exercise routines have positive benefits that filter into virtually every other aspect of your life.

Taking it down to something I KNEW that I could do every single day and creating that consistent habit opened the floodgates.  I still struggled (and do struggle) but it gave me the momentum I needed.

Here’s the thing, it can be really small.  I think to many people, especially moms, avoid even starting.  I was there, and I was a certified personal trainer. I thought I had to go the gym, which was inconvenient with a baby at home. I thought I had to work up a sweat for at least 30 minutes or an hour for to be worth it and at that points it wasn’t even worth starting, because I was just too tired and there was too much to do…but 15 minutes, from home, I could do!

It’s time to stop this cycle today!  Are you in?

Step 1: Decide on what you know you can do everyday.
Step 2: Commit to doing it.

Even if it is a five minute walk around the block. If you feel like that is the something that you can do everyday, commit to it.

You will create:

• A small win that will set yourself up for bigger wins.
• That consistent habit.  Adding intentional movement to your day will become a “no-brainer.”
• A filter down affect with the rest of your life. You will build your willpower reserve and set yourself up for further wins and further successes in other areas of your life (health, fitness, or… anything).

Let me know right now. What is your commitment? Five minutes around the block? A ten minute walk after dinner each day? A 15 minute circuit like the ones I post in the Strong Mom Tribe each week? 

What can you do everyday? What small thing can you do everyday to create a consistent habit? 

Tell me! Tell me!

The link will open your Facebook messenger setup already to send a message directly to yours truly...I’m telling you this for 2 reasons.

1. So you know you are really only one click away from this commitment! Let me hold you accountable or help you figure out what might be best for you, your life, and your schedule.
2. In case you are uncomfortable clicking links without knowing where they lead. I am definitely wary of that myself… you are safe with me ;)