Consider how you change your behavior when you walk into the library
Hopefully, you talk in lower tones (if at all), move quietly, and are considerate of those around you as you go about doing your own tasks for which you came to the library for.
Why did you choose to go to the library?
Perhaps you chose the library because you knew it was a known quiet place where you could focus to get work done or read a book uninterrupted.
Now contrast that with a sporting event in a stadium.
Are you quiet, considerate, and focused? If you are, you’re a horrible fan!
The point is that you behave differently in different environments because they all illicit a certain type of behavior based off of precedence or perspective. You’re quiet in a library because that is a place of study and focused intent. You’re loud in a sporting event because that is a place of cheering and stiff competition. You don’t want to be loud in a library and you don’t want to be quiet in a stadium, but both behaviors come naturally (some more than others) once you are in the environment.
Environments are potent triggers for behavior.
If you can hack your environment to work for you and build momentum towards your health and fitness goals, every effort you make to be active or nutritious won’t have to be an exercise in willpower and motivation.
Let your environment get you started.
For example, let’s try and hack your bedroom environment to work with you so you go for a walk consistently. The bedroom is a place of rest so I don’t actually want you feeling as if you have to ramp up your energy every time you’re there, but there are some intentional things you can do that will help make getting moving easier for you.
The first step is to walk into your room and think about how it makes you feel. Do you feel comfortable? Do you feel like taking a nap? Do you feel a need to clean?
Now, think about what type of things make you want to be active. Running shoes? Water bottle? “Activewear“? Hamster running on a wheel? It doesn’t necessarily have to be related, it just has to get you thinking about moving.
For me, I am much more likely to put on workout clothes and do something active if I have my clothes laid out on my bed or chair complete with shoes and socks on the floor.
Think of it like someone trying to play a guitar. If the guitar is stored neatly under the bed in a case, then it takes more time and effort to get it out to play. Even though the effort is small by comparison, it is still a barrier. It’s also out of sight (out of sight out of mind). BUT, if the guitar is on a stand easily within sight and reach, I am much more likely to get out and play it. See the difference?
If you remove as many barriers to increasing your exercise level as you can, you will be more likely to do the things you know you need to do, but are currently unable to make yourself do.
Another example…
I want to eat a healthy breakfast, but I’m always running late because I held tightly to those extra 15 minutes of shut eye.
Tomorrow starts the day before.
Prep a breakfast burrito with eggs, tomatoes, and avocados within a non-hydrogenated tortilla and wrap it in a paper towel or wax paper for you to grab and go the next morning.
Create a consistent routine.
You’ve heard it said that humans are “creatures of habit” and that is entirely true. For every thought and action, we literally make a physical neural connection within our brain. Each time we repeat that action, that neural connection gets thicker and stronger.
Your consistent thoughts and actions have power!
Have specific clothes in a specific drawer dedicated only to exercise. Do a pre-workout stretch routine when you get home, even if you don’t intend to work out, just to get your blood flowing. You might find that you actually want to workout after generating some movement. Always a have a gym bag ready to go in your car filled with everything you need to exercise. Familiarize yourself with all types of workouts so you aren’t restricted to any one type of equipment when you want to workout. Have a regular meeting with a workout buddy to keep you accountable when your willpower is low. Put a notecard with your goal in every room, on your computer monitor, the fridge, your mirror, closet door, etc.
Let your small actions build momentum to do a little more and be a little better each day. Focus on your long term health and fitness goals by focusing on the little things you can do each day.
I hope this got your creativity flowing with some different ideas to hack your environment. Would you like more specifics on environment hacking? Let me know and we will do a deep dive into how to make it work for you!
P.S. – Interested in getting some extra help with staying consistent? I help busy professionals incorporate exercise into their lives through online training as well as 1-1 training sessions for less than the cost of hiring a personal trainer at your local gym. Through this method of training, I’m able to work with you for a longer period of time to help ensure you stay consistent and know what you need to do to reach your goals. Fill out a Consultation Form and once I get a chance to review your responses, I will contact you to see if we would be a good fit. Want more info on how I train? Go HERE to learn more about the hybrid style of training I do. 100% online training is also a viable option if location is an issue. Whatever you choose to do with your health and fitness, don’t be afraid to start small. The most important thing is to start ?
Take Luck,
Bryce
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