{Day 27} The Art Of The Start!

When you think about starting something new —

• do you feel excited
• do you feel like you are stepping onto a large platform about to dive into shark invested waters
• are you one of those folks we are always starting something and not finishing it
• are you someone who says you are going to do it and boom it done!

2 snaps up to you if you are the later. So many of us struggle with getting start and actually finishing. Today is all about how to keep that moving forward. The biggest reason people fail at creating and sticking to new habits is that they don’t keep doing it. That seems obvious: if you don’t keep doing a habit, it won’t really become a habit. So what’s the solution to this obvious problem’ Find a way to keep doing it. When you look at it this way, the key to forming a habit is not how much you do of the habit each day (exercise for 30 minutes, eat 5 meals, etc.), but whether you do it at all. So the key is just getting started. Let me emphasize that: the key to forming a habit is starting each day. What do I mean by starting’ If you want to form the habit of meditation, just park your tushy down in a quiet area each day. If you want to form the habit of running, just lace up your shoes and get out the door. If you want to form the habit of writing, just sit down, you can write it out long hand or type on your computer. Form the habit of starting, and you’ll get good at forming habits.

Easier Said Then Done — How Do You Get Started’

What happens when you wake up and don’t feel like doing yoga or heading to your cycle class’ Let’s first take a look at why you don’t feel like starting. It’s usually for one or both of these reasons:

1. You are comfortable with what you’re doing (doing something online, sleeping, just sitting down =)), and the habit you’d like to start  it’s too hard – aka not comfortable. We cling to the comfortable. We love our comfort zone!!!
2. It’s too difficult to get started — to do the habit, you have to buy stuff or find someone who will help or teach you, or drive 20 minutes to the gym, or go get a bunch of ingredients, etc. — This is when the excuse monster rears its ugly head.

Those are the main two reasons, and really they’re the same thing. So the solution is to make it easier and more comfortable to do the habit, and easier to get started. Some ways to do that:

• Focus on the smallest thing — just getting started. You don’t have to do even 5 minutes — just start. That’s so easy it’s hard to say no.
• Prepare everything you need to get started earlier. So if you need some equipment, get it ready well before you have to start, like the evening before, or in the morning if you have to do it in the afternoon, or at least an hour before. Then when it’s time to start, there is no barrier.
  • I lay out my gym clothes the night before so all I need to do is put them on my body.
  • I make my shopping list on Friday night and head to the grocery store on Saturday afternoon so I have food in the house for the week.
  • I put my workouts in my calendar weekly so I know when I’m working out.
• Make the habit something you can do where you are, instead of having to drive there.
  • Can you buy videos and do workouts at home
  • Can you pull out your ipod and just dance for 20 minutes
  • Can you grab stuff out of your cupboard and make a new recipe’
• If you have to drive or walk somewhere, have someone meet you there. Then you’re less likely to stay home (or at work), and more likely to go — and going there is the same thing as getting started. This works because you’re making it less comfortable to not start — the idea of leaving a friend waiting for you at the gym or park is not a comfortable one.
  • I recently started going to a cycle studio where if I don’t cancel the night before I lose my money.
  • Sign up for personal training sessions
  • Work with a coach on accountability
• Tell people you’re going to do the habit of starting your habit every day for 30 days. Having this kind of accountability motivates you to get started, and makes it less comfortable not to start.
  • This is the main reason why I started this challenge to help you get moving on a goal you may have been putting off.
• Start with the easiest version of the habit, so that it’s easy to start. For example, if you want to form the habit of reading, don’t start with War and Peace, but with the Shopaholic Series or whoever you find fun and easy to read. If you want to start yoga, don’t start with a head to a 90 min power yoga, head to a 60 min to class or find a website that shows you a few salutations.

Make it as easy as possible to start, and hard to not start. Tell yourself that all you have to do is lace up your shoes and get out the door, and you’ll have a hard time saying no. Once you’ve started, you’ll feel good and probably want to continue (though that’s not a necessity). Learn to love that moment of brilliance, and your habit troubles fade like the night.

Today’s assignment

Pick 2 of the starters that you could do to help you get started with one of your goals.

Don’t forget Leave a comment below. Write a facebook post on the Fabulous Fit Squad. If you have a personal blog, write a blog post. Make sure you link back to the site so we can cheer you on and hold you accountable.

Just joining now” Don’t worry you can catch up.
Day 1 — Intro the challenge
Day 2 — Getting your mind straight 
Day 3 — Goal setting 
Day 4 — What’s on your plate
Day 5 — Lift
Day 6 — Cardio
Day 7 — Living on your own terms
Day 8 — Rest day
Day  9 — Forming a habit
Day 10 — Just Breathe
Day 11 — Fat loss secrets revealed
Day 12 — Can you pinch an inch
Day 13 — Dedicated and Focused 
Day 14 — Doubt
Day 15 — Rewards and Consequences
Day 16 — Damn Hormones
Day 17 — Pre and Post Workout Meals
Day 18 — Successful Weight Loss
Day 19 — Know Before You Go
Day 20 — Courage and Strength
Day 21 — You Can’t Out Run A Bad Diet
Day 22 — 10 Days To Go!
Day 23 To Cleanse Or Not Cleanse
Day 24 The Power Of Sleep
Day 25 — What’s Your Why
Day 26 — I’m Stressed