Making it easy to do the right thing
(this is the latest in our ‘investing in health‘ series of blog posts)
I’ve always struggled to maintain an exercise habit. Unlike saving or investing, it is not really possible to put it on autopilot.
Over the years I have been a runner (was doing 30km practice runs at one point), a cyclist (30km round trip to work every day), a rower (on my Concept2 at home), and a lifter (at public and private gyms). But I never kept the habit up.
I would get into it, do really well for a few weeks or even a few months, then get derailed.
But now I may have found a better way.
The key to any habit is to make it easier to do. If you want to save money, set up an automatic transfer to come out of your bank the day you get paid.
If you want to stick to your diet, get rid of all your unhealthy food and only buy food that fits your diet.
If you want to read more books, get rid of your TV.
My trick has been to set up a home gym in my office.
I brought the rowing machine in from home, where it wasn’t really getting used anymore. Bought some adjustable dumbbells and a weight bench. Got a pull up bar (which I mainly just hang from) and some floor mats.
I got the inspiration from a friend I stayed with in London this year. He has some dumbbells and just works out before work.
So far so good.
I’ve been doing this basic dumbbell workout for the last couple of months. Rowing before and after. Walking and cycling to the office.
Make it easy.
Whatever you want to do, create the conditions where it is easy to do it.
It helps to start small, and build a habit.
This applies to money just as much as health.
If you want to get your finances in order, just follow the basic principleas of money management:
- Don’t spend all your money each month.
- Save up for emergencies, don’t touch this money except when you really need to.
- Invest extra money in something sensible.
- Get necessary insurance.
Do that for a decade or two and you will transform your life.
Hopefully I’ll keep up the home workouts too, as my friend is expecting to see bigger biceps next time we meet 😉
If you enjoyed this post make sure you sign up to our email list! We have a weekly version that sends out one email a week and a monthly version that sends out one email a month. You can unsubscribe anytime and we don’t share your information with anyone else.
Hi Ben,
Why not just join a gym? More motivating alongside other grunters and groaners, a wider variety of equipment to stop boredom and more spacious.
Keep up the good work,
Dave
I’ve been a member of several gyms to date: for me it’s just too much of a hurdle. I end up not going.
This one I have much less of an excuse. Never have to wait for the weights. No commute time. Get my workout done in less than an hour.
Best solution I have found so far.
Agreed.
This is a GREAT solution.
I think the best parallel is ” If you want to save money, set up an automatic transfer to come out of your bank the day you get paid.”
If the gym is AUTOMATICALLY there, you’re more likely to make use of it. Period.
Good call!
Now I need to find the equivalent of this for writing!
I like this collected wisdom: https://www.reddit.com/r/bodyweightfitness/wiki/index
And tho I cycle, I also have a few bands, best one has handles on it.
I used to be a proponent for the home gym due to idiots who sit on a bench looking at their phone for 10 minutes but yeah I do like going to the gym now because my new gym is the Marine Corps gym. Great isolation exercises are available due to every machine imaginable being available and it’s inspirational when the others are working to failure not to 70% of failure.