Don’t feel like exercise? (It’s not lack of willpower)

Do you ever start the day with healthy intentions, but consistency never seems to happen?

It’s not lack of willpower.

It’s decision fatigue.

If you’re a busy parent, maybe this schedule looks a bit familiar…

• 2:05am – Kid wakes up with a stomach bug

  (Hoping I can fall back asleep…)

• 5:30am – Alarm goes off for AM exercise

  (Okay, just one snooze, then I’ll exercise…)

• 6:17am – 7th time hitting the snooze

  (Oops…)

• 6:18am – Toddler waddles into the room

  (Does potty training last forever?)

• 6:41am – Scarfs down a banana and pop tart

  (I need to make a better grocery list…)

• 7:13am – Getting kids ready for the day

  (I forgot to do laundry again…)

• 7:36am – 6 minutes late to start the commute

  (Praying for no traffic…)

• 7:37am – Oh look, traffic

  (What podcast should I listen to?)

• 8:23am – At work. 51 unread emails

  (Should I do that 3rd cup of coffee?)

• 10:31am – Realizing I just spent 2 hours answering emails

  (Do I literally just answer emails all day?)

• 11:03am – This meeting could have been one of those emails

  (Should I tell them?)

• 12:17pm – Realizing I forgot to pack lunch

  (Should I go to Chick-Fil-A again?)

• 1:47pm – Going for that afternoon cup of coffee

  (Is this a good idea?)

• 2:23pm – Lower back hurts after sitting all day

  (Am I getting old?)

• 3:31pm – Energy crash during a meeting

  (Regretting that coffee now…)

• 4:59pm – Boss asks me to do one last thing

  (Should I tell him I’m on my way out?)

• 5:17pm – Traffic again

  (What podcast now?)

• 6:10pm – Scrambling for dinner

  (Can leftover fish and tomato sauce go together?)

• 7:31pm – Getting the kids ready for bed

  (This should take 60 seconds…)

• 8:32pm – Finish getting the kids to bed

  (How does toothpaste get on the wall?)

• 8:33pm – Alright, time to exercise

  (This is the last thing I want to do…)

• 10:41pm – 7 TV episodes later

  (How did that happen…)

Repeat.

The entire day is a marathon of tens of thousands of decisions.

The choice is not between “working out” and “relaxing”.

It’s between a “high-energy choice” (exercise) and “low-energy choice” (snooze/couch).

With days like that, our brains love to choose the pathway of least resistance.

The Solution (It’s Not More Willpower)

The solution is not more willpower.

It’s to make fewer decisions about our health each day.

Here are 3 ways to do this:

1) Automate food before 5pm

• Make a list of 2-3 breakfasts that you love and are healthy. Eat only those.

• Make a list of 3-5 snacks you love and are healthy. Eat only those.

• Eat only leftover dinner for lunch.

• Drink only coffee (stop by 12pm) and water (all day).

This automates every meal decision before dinner.

And dinner becomes the only new decision you have to make.

2) Schedule your workout like your boss told you to do it

If your boss asks you to do something, you’ll probably do it.

We respond to that decision as both important and urgent.

Treat your workout the same way.

If you neglect exercise long enough, it will become both important and urgent.

3) Take walking breaks like your life depends on it

I’m exaggerating… but I’m also not just exaggerating.

Walking quite literally adds years to your life.

On average, every 60 minutes of walking adds 169 minutes to life expectancy.

If you’re not moving at all, and you start walking, you can add 11 years to your life expectancy.

➡️ The Takeaway

Stop beating yourself up for lack of willpower.

That’s not the problem.

The problem is we make too many decisions.

Start small. And don’t stop.

P.S. Any of this resonate?

If you’re a busy parent who wants to lose 10-15 pounds in 40 days (no gym), check out Kickstart40.

The information provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.