Editors Note: This is a contribution from Todd Boyer, who blogs at PhitZone.com .
Many years ago I read Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Mr. Covey lays out seven very effective ways that, when implemented, will change one’s life.
It’s been a very popular book in the business world. But, why stop there?
Can we employ these to other facets of our lives? Let’s take a look at how applying these very same seven habits will make your fitness more effective.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Everything that you do, from sleep, to food, dealing with stress, and exercise, affects the health of your body. When you come to that realisation, the first step has been taken.
Choose to go back for a second helping of Thanksgiving dinner, and there is a consequence. Take a month off of exercise – consequence.
Being proactive is simply the understanding that the choices that you make have an impact on your goals.
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Setting goals is the only way to get to where you’re going. Have you ever just gotten in your car, and started driving? Did you end up where you wanted to go?
Try this exercise that I learned in a college art class. Get a piece of paper and a pen. Turn the paper long ways, and put a dot on either end of the paper. Now, put the point of the pen on one of the dots. While looking only at the point of the pen, draw a line to the other dot.
Now, draw two new dots, and do the exercise again, only this time I want you to only look at the dot on the other side of the paper. When done, look at which line is straighter, and has fewer squiggles.
Having goals to work towards is like keeping your eyes on that second dot.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
In all aspects of life, there are some things that are just more important than others. You should take a weekly and even daily inventory of what those things are.
After completing Habit #2, your health and fitness should be included somewhere on this list. Depending on just how important your health and fitness is to you will determine its place on said list.
I like to write out all of my priorities. Next to each, mark it with a number, 1 through 4, 1 being über important and 4 being “eh, I’ll get to it when I can”. Then rearrange the list with all 1’s together, etc.
Each day, those 1’s have to get done. When those are complete, work on the 2’s, etc. If you get to any of the 4’s that’s, awesome. If not, they will wait.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Including others into your fitness goals is one example of a win-win situation.
Getting your family to go on hikes, or bike rides helps their fitness, and the added benefit of doing something as a family.
Bringing a friend to the gym gives you a training partner, which is a proven way to help you push one another to new fitness heights.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
Here’s the thing about exercising with other people; everybody has different skills and abilities. Keep this in mind when you train with another person.
Your son or daughter may not be able to keep up with you on the bike trail, or basketball court. Your wife may not be able to squat 300 pounds, and your husband may not be a flexible yogi.
Even at the dinner table, the person sitting across from you may not know as much about nutrition as you.
Understand this while being thoughtful may lead to the other person wanting to know what you know.
Habit 6: Synergize
Boy, this has been such a buzz word in offices around the world. All it means is to find the strengths of the different people, and putting them to use for the benefit of the team.
Obviously when playing on a team sport, this makes perfect sense. But what if you don’t play on any teams, and just hit the gym for some time on the treadmill?
If you did habit 4 and 5, you probably already have some people in mind that can help you out. When thinking about that Win-Win strategy, you discovered that your neighbor runs marathons. Your cousin plays pick-up basket ball at the Y, and the receptionist at work is married to an amateur powerlifter.
Synergy is simply putting these people and their abilities into your circle. Now you run with the neighbor on Tuesday, lift weights with the receptionist’s husband on Thursday, and play b-ball with your cousin on Saturday.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
If you use a saw it will go dull over time. If you don’t sharpen it, it won’t cut wood.
Constantly change the way, and what you eat. Alter your exercise routine every couple of months. Add/replace training partners.
Keep things fresh. If you do this your body will never adapt, and that’s the way that you want it.
—————————————-
Please consider Subscribing to our free articles and checking out our new eBook ‘ All About Fitness’ for simple strategies on staying fit! If you enjoyed this article please Tweet about it.
Editors Note: This is a contribution from Todd Boyer, who blogs at PhitZone.com .
Many years ago I read Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Mr. Covey lays out seven very effective ways that, when implemented, will change one’s life.
It’s been a very popular book in the business world. But, why stop there?
Can we employ these to other facets of our lives? Let’s take a look at how applying these very same seven habits will make your fitness more effective.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Everything that you do, from sleep, to food, dealing with stress, and exercise, affects the health of your body. When you come to that realisation, the first step has been taken.
Choose to go back for a second helping of Thanksgiving dinner, and there is a consequence. Take a month off of exercise – consequence.
Being proactive is simply the understanding that the choices that you make have an impact on your goals.
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Setting goals is the only way to get to where you’re going. Have you ever just gotten in your car, and started driving? Did you end up where you wanted to go?
Try this exercise that I learned in a college art class. Get a piece of paper and a pen. Turn the paper long ways, and put a dot on either end of the paper. Now, put the point of the pen on one of the dots. While looking only at the point of the pen, draw a line to the other dot.
Now, draw two new dots, and do the exercise again, only this time I want you to only look at the dot on the other side of the paper. When done, look at which line is straighter, and has fewer squiggles.
Having goals to work towards is like keeping your eyes on that second dot.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
In all aspects of life, there are some things that are just more important than others. You should take a weekly and even daily inventory of what those things are.
After completing Habit #2, your health and fitness should be included somewhere on this list. Depending on just how important your health and fitness is to you will determine its place on said list.
I like to write out all of my priorities. Next to each, mark it with a number, 1 through 4, 1 being über important and 4 being “eh, I’ll get to it when I can”. Then rearrange the list with all 1’s together, etc.
Each day, those 1’s have to get done. When those are complete, work on the 2’s, etc. If you get to any of the 4’s that’s, awesome. If not, they will wait.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Including others into your fitness goals is one example of a win-win situation.
Getting your family to go on hikes, or bike rides helps their fitness, and the added benefit of doing something as a family.
Bringing a friend to the gym gives you a training partner, which is a proven way to help you push one another to new fitness heights.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
Here’s the thing about exercising with other people; everybody has different skills and abilities. Keep this in mind when you train with another person.
Your son or daughter may not be able to keep up with you on the bike trail, or basketball court. Your wife may not be able to squat 300 pounds, and your husband may not be a flexible yogi.
Even at the dinner table, the person sitting across from you may not know as much about nutrition as you.
Understand this while being thoughtful may lead to the other person wanting to know what you know.
Habit 6: Synergize
Boy, this has been such a buzz word in offices around the world. All it means is to find the strengths of the different people, and putting them to use for the benefit of the team.
Obviously when playing on a team sport, this makes perfect sense. But what if you don’t play on any teams, and just hit the gym for some time on the treadmill?
If you did habit 4 and 5, you probably already have some people in mind that can help you out. When thinking about that Win-Win strategy, you discovered that your neighbor runs marathons. Your cousin plays pick-up basket ball at the Y, and the receptionist at work is married to an amateur powerlifter.
Synergy is simply putting these people and their abilities into your circle. Now you run with the neighbor on Tuesday, lift weights with the receptionist’s husband on Thursday, and play b-ball with your cousin on Saturday.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
If you use a saw it will go dull over time. If you don’t sharpen it, it won’t cut wood.
Constantly change the way, and what you eat. Alter your exercise routine every couple of months. Add/replace training partners.
Keep things fresh. If you do this your body will never adapt, and that’s the way that you want it.
—————————————-
Please consider Subscribing to our free articles and checking out our new eBook ‘ All About Fitness’ for simple strategies on staying fit! If you enjoyed this article please Tweet about it.