Doing something is ALWAYS better than doing nothing

This might at first seem like a throw-away comment. A statement of the obvious, with no real depth or meaning.

But embracing the idea of this phrase could play an essential role in the success of your exercise routine.

The reason?

Our big plans often fail because they are exactly that - big plans. 

Let me explain:

• There’s an expectation, mostly coming from within ourselves, that if we are going to start something new (e.g. a diet, a hobby or training) that we need to be fabulous at it

• No one likes to feel like they are failing but sadly there’s a tendency to focus on the difficulty in the early stages of a new activity rather than the long term potential

• ‘Go big or go home’ isn’t exactly helpful - there’s a whole bundle of unnecessary pressure associated with the phrase, and it can wake up the inner voice telling us not to bother at all

On the flip side:

• Accepting that you’re not going to be amazing at something when you’ve never done it before is not only sensible, but it can also be very liberating

• Learning that it’s perfectly okay not to be perfect all the time builds resilience - an immensely rewarding life skill

• Trying new things can be beneficial for both our physical and mental health – if the new activity in question is actually physical exercise, then that’s even better

Just run for a minute

I often get puzzled looks from clients when I say to them that they should start their running plan with just a one minute run. Surely that’s not particularly challenging, perhaps even a little bit embarrassing?

Well, no. It’s a start and it’s an easy way to bed-in a habit which you can develop and grow.

I challenge anyone to be daunted by running for just one minute. It’s imaginable, it’s achievable and it’s a quick win for the part of your brain which loves to succeed. There’s almost no excuse for not doing it and that’s why it’s the perfect introduction to something which, I wager, will become an important – and enjoyable – staple in your fitness programme.

You are unlikely to stick at the one minute target for very long. Your body will probably compel you to continue rather than stop and, all of a sudden, you have doubled your target or trebled it. All without getting too exhausted, and whilst getting a super surge of feel-good endorphins. 

That’s how a one minute run can be the start of a marathon running obsession. And even if it doesn’t see you lining up at the starting line of the London race, it will see running becoming your ‘go to’ activity when you can steal half an hour for yourself or when you are resting between other training routines.

A one minute run is something and it’s infinitely better than doing nothing!