Many times we get find ourselves looking down or looking behind. Rarely do we look up and forward to what lies ahead. Human nature leads us to think about the past and how we could have done something better or smarter.
Try looking forward and forgetting about the past. You can’t change what happened 2 days or 2 minutes ago. We have the power to change what will happen next. So let’s focus on that.
If we continue to dwell on the past or be bummed about our current situation, nothing will change. Something happened that you are not thrilled about? Don’t dwell on it. Pick your head up, focus on the next task and give it your best effort.
Always look ahead, do the best you can and the results will follow.
Going through this week, month or year are we treading water or are we making progress?
If we are treading water, why are we doing so?
Not in the game mentally?
Lack of personal effort?
Distractions?
Lack of motivation?
Not enough rest?
There are a multitude of reasons why we tread water in regards to work or personal life. Dig deep to find the ultimate reason this is happening.
How can we turn treading water into a full on swim in the direction of success?
Does it involve waking up earlier to accomplish more tasks? Turning off the TV to read or exercise? Or is it changing your mindset to focus on your ultimate desires?
If you feel like you are currently just treading water, look for an answer. Be honest with yourself about the things you feel and do. What activity is just turning the wheel everyday?
Write it down. Pledge to change it. Be the change you want to see in the world.
Well, I am going to expose it all right here. The best exercise to do in a time crunch is…..
ANYTHING!!
What do you like to do? Run, walk, lift weights, play games, basketball?
The truth is anything you do is better than sitting on the couch. You need to move and get the blood flowing. If you have 20 minutes of free time, go for a walk. If have a bit of free time and gym membership get in and get that heart rate elevated.
Your best option is to get the heart rate elevated for 20 to 30 minutes. However, if a walk is the only thing you have time or space for try to make it 30 consecutive minutes. Alternatively you can also do two 15 minute session to equal the recommended 30 minutes.
You might be thinking. Well how am I supposed to set aside 20 minutes Kevin?! I have a job, kids, traffic, laundry and more things to do I can’t list them all.
Well first off, take control of your time. It’s the most important thing you have.
After dinner or before dinner set aside 20 minutes to walk around the block. Forget checking Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for the 35th time today. That can wait, trust me.
How about waking up 20 minutes earlier to get your day off to a better start? Walk with your coffee or tea!
Use your time to get out and move. Get off the couch and find the path to a healthy you!
What do you listen to or read that makes you think, “I am going to CRUSH it today!”
Do you know? If you don’t, find a few things that give you inspiration during a rough day or morning. It can be a book, poster, a friend with encouraging words. Be creative!! How about a picture of you as a kid being a total rockstar?
Find your inspiration. Scream it, hold it, read it, re-read it, embrace it.
To pull one of the best quotes from the movie “The Other Guys”
Many things can get in the way of our intended purpose for the day. We all know those types of events that stray us from the path and leave that frustrated feeling (traffic, spilled coffee, an argument, deadline missed, deadline approaching, endless travel,)
Accountability has been touched on briefly before and it is here again. No matter the hurdles that appear in our day the ultimate decision on dealing with them comes down to you.
You are up.
You can control how you react to a bad driver. How you react to missing a workout. Being disciplined in your reactions can have a beneficial effect on your overall mood and day.
Step up to the plate. Try to react to an adverse situation without anger and with gratitude. Your body and your mind will thank you. Search for the best in every situation and encounter. After all, you control how wonderful the life your living is. Make it amazing!
On a long holiday weekend we are all thinking about rest. As much as society drills into us that we need to constantly be on the move. Always doing something, checking emails, texting, running.
Let’s take advantage of the holiday weekend to rest up and recover. Your body gets fatigued from a lot of different things (exercise, over sleeping, computer screens). We need to unplug once in a while and enjoy rest.
Let your body recover and be fresh. Recovery differs for a lot of people. Do what feels good for you. Enjoy it and put a smile on!
Today’s post is short and sweet. It comes from an interaction I had last night with someone I had only met two times previously.
We will not delve into the specifics here. However, the take home point from the conversation is simple and profound.
You never know the positive impact you are having or have had on someone’s life. When you are being true to yourself and speaking from the heart great things result.
Even if the interactions have been minimal or you thought it was a run of the mill conversation.
Be yourself, smile, be positive, be reliable, live in gratitude.
Too many to list here and really they are all the same
At a young age we try everything with no fear. For better or for worse we give it a try. Dancing, singing, picking up things, throwing things. Along the way our “Lizard brain” (thank you Seth Godin for bringing it to my attention) is responsible for our primitive survival instincts, think fight or flight..or FEAR!
Constantly telling us we can’t do what we want. The lizard brain affects us because it doesn’t like achievement, risk or change. It holds us back from what we really want. You can only overcome it once you are aware of it. Well the good thing is…you are now!!
Think about a time you were scared or nervous to do something new. Then once you did it you wanted to do it again and again?! The lizard brain was scared of this new idea and wanted to hold you back. However, once you achieved it the rest of your body said “That was amazing Kev, let’s do that again!!!”
I am not going to say what you need to do to overcome your fear. One reason is because everyone has different fear for different reasons. The other is if you take my advice and then it doesn’t work….you are going to say “Well, Kevin said to try this and it didn’t work. I can’t do this. I am going to stop trying” (That isn’t Extreme Ownership, which we can learn from Jocko Willink. We will discuss that later in this blog 🙂
Think about what is holding you back from doing something you love. Nervous about the reactions from others? What will others think? Will I do it wrong? Will I be rejected?
WHO CARES?! DO IT!
Everyone has something they are scared of in their life. Holding them back from success in either business or in their personal life. Step up to the plate, overcome your lizard brain and achieve things you never thought possible!
Only you can make changes to your life. You hold the key to overcoming your fear. Put a smile on, get pumped and achieve!
Yep, we have all said those before! I am willing to bet you made that statement before reading this blog. Or perhaps yesterday after you just worked for 12 hours and the copier broke after you spilled hot coffee on your lap, all while trying to nail down your next meeting.
I get it, fitting time to exercise can feel hard some days and some weeks. The key is staying on top of it and making a habit of at least two days a week. Why do I say two days? My belief is that if you start at something you can achieve those two days will turn into three or four. As your habit builds, so will the results and your investment in your health will be worth it.
The first few minutes are the hardest.
That is true, the first bit of getting your heart rate and body going are the most difficult. Depending on your choice of movement for the day after five or ten minutes you are going to start feeling better and want to finish what you started.
Once your heart rate picks up to compensate for your change in intensity, your blood flow will increase and so will your energy.
Researchers at the University of Georgia found that sedentary, otherwise healthy adults who engaged in as little as 20 minutes of low-to-moderate aerobic exercise, three days a week for six consecutive weeks, reported feeling less fatigued and more energized.
The more you can get into a routine with consistent exercise the more energy you will have on a daily basis. Not only will that exercise session give you energy for that day, it can carry over to the following day and help you get a head start on the next morning!
The next time you want to sit down on the couch and just ‘relax’ think about going for a short walk. Enjoy what this summer has to offer and feel better doing it!
Make it the best day!
-K
Functional Range Conditioning and joint mobility specialist
