What’s the Point?

Knowing your end goal will help you stay focused

When you don’t have a goal in mind, it’s easy to let habits fall to the wayside and feel unmotivated.

But when you’re working toward something that really matters to you, making smart choices that support your goals comes a lot easier.

Sometimes we’re not motivated. Habits help. But what if we’re like ugh, just haaaaaate exercising?

First, as grownups who have opted in to life in Western society, we’re sometimes going have to do things we don’t want do like pay taxes and work jobs. Not always motivating, but we usually make it a habit and get it done.

Secondly, in those scenarios, we have a REASON to do the things we don't want to do. We pay taxes because we don’t want to get fined or go to jail. We go to our jobs so we can pay for housing and food and whatever else we want and need.

Sometimes we do things we don't necessarily enjoy or want to do in the moment because of what we'll ultimately gain from it.

We can take that same concept and apply it to anything, including fitness, nutrition, and health.

For example, if you think you don’t enjoy exercise and don’t want to do it, what DO you like to do? And how can exercise help you do that better?

Love to travel?

You generally need to take a lot of steps to get through the airport, often while carrying bags and wrangling children. Maybe you need to be able to balance on the plane train while holding all your stuff, or lift your carry-on without having to ask for help (or dropping it on anyone's head). Truly, being able to confidently say, "No thanks, I've got it" if someone assumes you need help with your bags feels fantastic.

What about when you get to your destination?

If your idea of travel is outside the U.S., it's very likely that there won't be as many accessible accommodations and attractions as we have here. You'll need to be conditioned enough to walk a lot, climb stairs, get in and out of tour buses and vans, etc.

If you're staying stateside and heading to Disney or another amusement park, you're also going to need to be on your feet a lot. Maybe you also want to feel confident climbing into and out of different rides without assistance or being able to push a stroller or carry a tired kiddo as much as you might need.

For those of you who like the great outdoors, putting in the work indoors at the gym will give you the strength and stamina to really enjoy your adventures. Training your legs with step-ups and squats will make challenging hikes much more enjoyable, and improving your upper body strength is a big help for activities like kayaking and paddleboarding (unless you're paddling into a headwind!

If your jam isn't doing things but watching other people do them, you're not off the hook.

Maybe one of your favorite activities is watching your kids or grandkids play sports. Do you feel comfortable walking the distance from the parking lot to the field over uneven ground? What about schlepping their stuff or carrying siblings? Climbing on bleachers?

And if you're not into amateur sports, what about watching the pros? Yes, stadiums are more accessible than kids' rec fields, but there can still be a lot of walking from the parking lot, climbing stairs, maneuvering through big crowds, sitting and standing. Ideally, you'd want to be able to handle it without even having to think ahead of time about whether or not you could. '

Many people can’t do those things. People have all different bodies, abilities, and restrictions, and everyone should have access to the same experiences regardless of the body they’re in. That’s why we have the ADA and accommodations.

For many people though, practicing movement in our every day lives can help us stay healthy and mobile so we can actually feel good doing the things we enjoy for a long time.

You don’t have to be a gym rat. You don’t have to play sports or run 5K’s. You don’t have to train for anything, but you SHOULD train for life. We’re always moving, sitting, standing, reaching, lifting, carrying — and if we don’t do it enough, we’re more likely to get injured doing something “dumb” like a normal, everyday activity.

So if you’re not motivated and you haven’t yet built a habit, ask yourself what it is you DO want to do. What skills would help you do it better, more easily, with less pain? That’s what’s important. That’s what you train for.

And if you need help or programming for your specific life stuff, get in touch.
Helping people improve their movement to improve their quality of life is what I love to do.