Making Habits

Starting to make something a habit is always the hardest part of actually doing said habit. I'm pretty sure we all know the saying it takes 30 days to make a habit and it's most likely something we all think of once the new year comes around. Last week, I managed to convince a friend of mine to do a 10 Day Ab Workout Challenge with Chari Hawkins (Team USA Heptathlete) with me, she noticed I posted it on my Instagram Story and wanted to know what it was all about. Today is Day 8 of the challenge where every day Chari Hawkins uploads a new video with the ab workout for the day and we're both still going strong - last home stretch!

Working out is something that's been ingrained in my own routine for a few years now.

I've been consistently working out more seriously these past few years and so doing a workout is quite literally like clock work each day that's not my rest day. I mentioned in previous posts that I've been running track since I was 13/14 and prior to that I was always active in Basketball, Soccer and Karate. No matter what my schedule is, getting a workout is always apart of it.  I used to run in the mornings but when I had a temp job months ago I moved all my workouts to the evening. They're still in the evenings as I use my 9-5 for applying, blog work and coding challenges. Working out is so ingrained in my schedule, that a day without working out on a day not designated as a rest day is the equivalent to question marks. If the workout doesn't fit where it always was, then it's time to shift it around not shift it out of your life. Even if it means working out at 1AM.

evening photos = quality needs saving

Quite literally, the track, my yoga mat for floor ab workouts, my jump rope to work on coordination and stability etc. is kind of what I describe as being home. I had a stiff neck and shoulder for 2 weeks and couldn't run because recovery™is the queen in this house and if I'm not 100% it's heat pads and ice on loop. To be honest the illogical side of my brain wanted to go running after 2 days even though I was still using head pads on my neck and shoulder but the logical stopped my brain stopped that plan from going into motion. And by that I mean my mom gave me the look and I was back on my ice for my neck.

You really don't realize how important your shoulder girdle and your neck are for running until you suddenly can't tilt your neck and your shoulder is the equivalent to question marks - your daily reminder to pls upgrade your pillow. When I finally got back to running I swear it's like I finally found my way back to my home™.

Now I wouldn't be me if I didn't go on a random tangent. Let's get back on topic.

Making a habit stick is the hard part, but the hardest part is trying to jump over the hurdle of 'there's always tomorrow'.

The most important thing is to take that first step to start.

Taking the first step is always the hardest one. The reason for that is because whatever it is you choose to do, it's something that isn't a set part of routine yet so it's not like clock work that you return to it each day. Take the 10 day challenge for example, you're doing something everyday for 10 days and by the end of it on Day 11 you may still want to get some sort of workout in because you've already gotten used to it being in your schedule. If we diverge away from running for a bit, let's talk about blogging. So you may or may not have noticed that this is my first blog post with my official domain. I actually started blogging three years ago with a friend and in the end my friend didn't want to continue but I decided to keep going with it - uploading once a week- and here we are three years later, me typing this post.

the more I look at this photo the more I realize taking evening track photos precisely 5 minutes before sunset was not the greatest idea

I've had my fair amount of breaks in between from when I was finishing up my degree to taking breaks for inspiration but I've always come back to my blog because I genuinely enjoy writing my tangents of thoughts to actual sentences. If there's something you enjoy doing, you'll always find your way back to it.

Whenever you're starting something new there's always that feeling of trying to start at your level 23 rather than at your level 1 because you feel you have to be ~perfect~ at everything from the start. One thing I will say is to enjoy your progress to get to where you want to be rather than saving your enjoyment for the destination. The whole process of learning and becoming better at whatever it is you've chosen to add to your day-to-day is the best part of the journey because that's where your self-motivation to what you want to bring into your life starts to thrive.

The only limit is yourself.

Perhaps the most cliche line you'll ever find written on my blog, but it's true. I was recently watching a YouTube video of Sydney McLaughlin and she mentioned that the only limit was herself. So much of what we choose not to do - regarding something that can contribute to our growth - is inner us pulling us back from our potential. Making something a habit is more down to how much you are able to mute the inner voice trying to take you away from something that is a stepping stone for your personal growth.

I've ben toying with the idea of writing an 'I Will' list for the start of every week or maybe even everyday similar to a To-Do list - something about I will do XYZ rather than I want to do XYZ sounds more definite to me. A lot of making something a habit comes from within you and your own personal drive to always be better than you were the day before.

we love a good blur, this is what happens when you move your hand the same moment as you click the button on your tripod remote

When I was doing ab workout Day 7, Chari Hawkins mentioned that although she posted the videos for the workouts, it was us who made the active decision to set aside time to include the workout in our day. And she's right. We didn't have to do the workout, but we made the conscious effort to make sure we got it done. It's just us holding ourselves accountable. Well, she did say we'd have abs at the end of it so I guess that's a good incentive to keep showing up with my yoga mat because my abs are now holding me accountable for their existence.

You don't have to wait for tomorrow or the beginning of a month to start something.

Although I've definitely waited to start something at the beginning of the month in the past, it does make more sense to start the very same day (or if you're a night owl reading this, this is the only acceptable reason to think tomorrow is a good idea too) to start that blog, workout schedule or even start learning how to play the piano. The more we push it off, the more inner us starts getting comfortable with the idea of 'tomorrow' until 3 months pass and we're still saying we'll start it tomorrow. 

Start by putting one foot on either side of your bike and suddenly you're in motion with something new as your pedals and your hands on the handle bars holding on for dear life as you direct through this starting period. But soon your hands won't grip so tight on the handle bars, and you won't be as tense pushing forward because starting's the hard part. Keeping going on the other hand, once you made it a habit to continue coming back to it, is the easy part.

So let's talk about starting something new and making habits - what's something you want to start and make a habit of?

TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | PINTEREST | GOODREADS