Getting a Monkey on your Back

Or... How to Form a Running Habit

 

Human beings are creatures of habits. I am. You are. We all are. Turning your vision of a fit and healthy you into a reality requires discipline and consistency. In short, you need a habit.

 

So here are some guidelines:

 

• Exercise in the morning

According to many studies, the best time of the day to go for a workout is in the early morning when the rest of the world is still asleep. Also, in my experience, it's a great way to meet the day, with some accomplished under your belt.

 

• Commit For 30-Days

The best approach for forming a new habit is by committing to doing the new activity for at least 4 consecutive weeks, non-stop. I usually explain to new runners that they should look to a 6 week approach to habit-forming.

 

• Make your exercise enjoyable

If your exercise is enjoyable and fun, then you’ll be looking forward to doing it. For some of us, running IS fun and enjoyable all on its own. For others, not so much.

 

Nevertheless, not all workouts can be fun, especially if you like to up the ante and push your body to your next level. If you are running a recovery run in fatigue, you will feel less than motivated. But going out of your comfort zone is essential for growing and improving your fitness level. So you need to put some fun into those runs:

 

- Vary your training programs. Instead of sticking to the same routine, try different regimes and break out of the boredom mold.

- Listen to your favorite music and keep updating your playlist with upbeat and inspiring tracks.

- Reward yourself for the hard efforts. Just make sure that the rewards are non-food based.

- Keep track of your progress by taking measurements, before/after pictures, and soliciting appraisements and compliments from your family members for progress.

 

Consistency, as I have written here often, is key to your development as a runner. And forming a habit is essential to gaining that consistency. The above are just ideas and guidelines, you can add or drop or use none of them. But you must form a habit.