60 seconds in a minute.
60 minutes in an hour.
24 hours in a day.
It's the same for all of us.
Yet some seem to get so much more done in the day!
When I ask people why they don't do something they say they want to, hands down, the first answers are Time and Money.
So today, let's take a look at time.
"I don't have time to work out."
"I can't find time to work out."
"The class isn't at a time that works for me."
"I'm just so busy."
Sound familiar? OF COURSE IT DOES! I find myself saying it too! They are perfectly rational things to say when your plate is full with working, parenting, and trying to life.
But, as you know if you've ready any of my previous blogs: Rationalizing is just telling yourself Rational Lies! Now, I am going to say this upfront: The demands of my life are different than the demands of your life. Yes. However, being the victim of your circumstances will not get you the changes you desire. YOU are in control of your life.
Go ahead, say it: "But Lindsey, you don't understand what my schedule is like - there is literally NO me time." Ok. It's said. Here's where in your head you either 1) Fully commit to the rationalization that there is NO time and NO other person has a schedule like yours and finds time to take care of herself or 2) You start to 'strategize' how you can make time.
I'm going to offer Option 3: Slow Down.
Let's take a few steps backwards and dig deeper before we strategize and beat ourselves up. There is nothing wrong with you and you are perfectly capable of making time for healthy habits. But, there may be something about the way you are going about trying to make the change that is holding you back from the outcome you say you want. That is something you can control.
You are what you repeatedly do. And what you repeatedly do are called habits. And habits can only be changed when you acknowledge them and truly observe them. If you want to change any habit or improve your health you have to learn how to take a look at what you are already doing and what triggers that behavior without judgment. Ewwww. Without judgment? Hmmm, yeah, I'm sooooo good at self-judgment. Not any more! This is simply taking stock of where you are - right now - the starting point.
Research shows that humans are not great at recollecting what they actually do. (Thank you brain filters - I'll just keep what fits with my perception of things - bits that support my story I've created.) Do yourself a favor and track what you are ACTUALLY doing with your time. Then you can see exactly what your habits are and you can identify which ones are specifically getting in the way of you making progress.
Once you are standing face to face with what you are actually doing - all of it: the good and not so good and the 'I don't even want to acknowledge' - you can start improving your habits with more ease and less stress.
Want Vs. Should
Feeling better.
Losing weight.
Preventing illness.
Gaining strength.
All valid reasons for exercising.
But they aren't strong enough to get you through your workout, let alone to create time for your workout. So we have to dig deeper here.
If you're struggling to find time to workout I'm going to suggest you're really feeling resistance to finding time to work out.
'That's great Lindsey, but what are you suggesting I do about it?!'
(The ?! is because I'm certain I hit a nerve for some by saying it's not really about time.)
If you'll humor me here for a bit, set aside your personal and emotional story with time, and ask yourself: Do I really want to create an exercise habit?
If your answer is yes - ask yourself why.
(If your answer is no - there's still some valuable answers to be found here. For instance: if you don't exercise, what does it get you off the hook for? What's your payoff?)
If your answer is yes, then let's find out WHY you are committed to healthier behavior. Otherwise you will tell yourself the rational lies, negotiate and compromise your way out of it. Every. Single. Time.)
Then, ask yourself WHY about 4 more times. I'm not joking.
For example:
Why do you want to start exercising? Because I want to lose weight and get into shape.
Why is that important to you? Because I’ll feel more confident. I'll feel better about myself, my health, in my clothes, in my skin.
And why is that important? Because I won't have that feeling of shame about how I look. And I won't have the physical discomfort caused by my extra weight and what it does to my body every day. Less Pain. More balance. More ease of movement.
And what differences will that make? I could do whatever I'd like! I can play with my kids. I can hike in Alaska. I can ride any ride at an amusement park. I can do anything because my physical body wouldn't stop me.
And why will that previous thing matter? I don’t want to look back at the things I did (or didn’t do) with regret. I want to jump at any opportunity that excites me full of confidence and vigor and ease. I want to live a life of "HELL YEAH!"
Isn’t that so much more powerful than “I want to lose weight”?
If you can find your true WHY behind the work out, or creating any healthy habit, I promise you: The Time Will Appear.
But, YOU have to commit to your WHY.
If you're struggling with time, leave me a comment; tell me what's going on. I promise, you're not alone in this. And if you decide to take a close look at how you're spending your time or your why, feel free to share your results!