We all, at times, have acted against our better judgment and left today’s exercise for tomorrow… What is this force that prevents us from following through on what we set out to do?
The force is our friend procrastination, and for many of us, it has been a loyal companion while we are in the throes of this pandemic.
I’m sure some of you, like me, at the beginning of quarantine had high hopes for tackling the to-do list that never seemed to get done. Perhaps you saw yourself using the extra time at home to work out and get fitter than ever before…
Months later…it seems only harder than before to get motivated for home exercise. Harder to wake up in the morning, more challenging to get dressed, harder to find the reason for exercise when waiting until tomorrow feels sooo good.
Unfriending procrastination may be impossible right now, however, understanding its nature will help set healthy boundaries for our toxic friend.
Humans are conditioned for survival
It is not a coincidence that procrastination helps us avoid negative feeling in the present only to feel worse in the future.
Pre-history humans were surrounded by the danger of the unknown. It was vital to deal with the present threat over the long term one. Therefore, it is no surprise that today’s exercise for long term health takes a back seat in times of pandemic stress.
Currently, it’s hard to envision our future self; she/he has become a stranger to us. Our future health and fitness feels like “someone else’s problem” and not our priority today.
Reconnecting with our future self and understanding that, without daily exercise, our body will naturally degenerate, bringing with it a considerable risk for life-threatening diseases.
The most common realisations I hear from people who have made the hard decision to exercise daily is: “I can’t believe how good fitness feels” and “I wish I had started years before.”
My favourite Chinese Proverb is and always will be: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Suppose then, you think of your daily exercise as anticipation of health and fitness for your future self. In that case, your friend procrastination is easily kept at bay.
Don’t wait for tomorrow to exercise! Download your beginner 9 minute, Cardio, Core and Strength workout with the link below and START TODAY!
Live well with Health and WELLth!
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