A technique to help increase your chance of success
Introducing mental contrasting - a two step method to help you increase motivation and achieve your goals
I used to joke that you could split people into two groups.
Those who started their timer before they began a plank, and those who would begin planking and then start their timer.
The difference in the amount of plank done is just a few seconds, with the individuals in the second group doing a little bit longer each time.
This small action can be a window into our behaviour which, if applied across the board, makes a big difference. A little less effort, not quite as long performing an exercise, a little more mayonnaise and a few less vegetables (I’m sharing my personal issues here!) - you can see how it all adds up.
So what started as a joke, has actually become something I look for - I call it “the edge”.
While you don’t necessarily need this edge to make progress, it’s often a key attribute in those who do really well over both the short and the long term.
Personally, I now use it as a marker of how intune I am with my workouts, and whether I’m being honest with myself. Am I getting stuck in? Or am I just going through the motions?
Now there are times in our life where we need to just go through the motions - when our focus or priorities are elsewhere, then, the important thing is to simply show up and do something. Don’t be hard on yourself for skipping a few seconds of plank if this is the case.
But to take that next step, make a real change and level up - it requires the edge.
Do you currently have it?
If not, when did you have it last? Why was that?
Have a think and see if you can find it and apply it to at least one lifestyle behaviour or workout.
I know I’m going to try and be more honest with myself on my stretches (and mayo portion!)
Let me know what you discover.
