Don’t think too much

I love training – it is one of my favourite things to do.  I know that this is not the case for everyone.  Even though I really love training – there are still times when I shudder at the thought of how I am going to feel towards the end of a hard training session I have coming up.  If I start thinking about it too much it is almost enough to put me off.  If this happens to me – a person who absolutely loves exercise – how much worse must it be for people who do not actually like training very much.

Over the break I had a quick look at the autobiography of Chris Judd, a very well regarded AFL player who recently retired. One of Judd’s observations is that as a younger player he did not “over think” what he was doing, he played by instinct and this meant that he was in a good position to play well and enjoy playing.   As he got older and started to think more about what he was doing and why he was doing it football was not “easy” any more, nor as enjoyable.

The best way to make sure I keep showing up even for tough workouts is to NOT THINK about what is in store too much.  I say to myself:  “Do not let your mind go there.  In the end it will all be okay and in fact you will come out the other end stronger and better.  Get yourself there and let it happen.  Turn on that autopilot and forget about what is going to happen or not happen.”

Set the alarm.  Have your workout clothes near the bed, climb out, get dressed and just turn up.  Then ENJOY!