I recently read a Huffington Post article entitled I Really Hate It When I Procrastinate, written by John Murphy. I recommend you read it, too. Procrastination can creep into our lives, slowing or even stopping progress. You may procrastinate for a variety of reasons but the same ill effects come of it. A successful person must first master him- or herself to be able to create a lifestyle conducive to success.
This advice I’m about to give you is the same advice I give my clients. First, you must figure out why you procrastinate and what you procrastinate about. Second, create a strategy to fix the situation and follow through even when you don’t want to. Procrastination is often a degree of avoidance due to conflict, difficulty, and hesitation on how to go forward. We put off things we don’t want to do, don’t know how to do, or are not sure what the outcome will be.
This is a surefire way to achieve a mediocre life and not become the person you truly want to be. I’ve yet to meet anyone who wants to just make it by and exist one day to the next, yet I’ve met hundreds of people stuck in this whirlpool. How do you break this hold? Here is my advice, and we are going to talk specifically about procrastinating with regards to fitness and nutrition today.
How to Stop Procrastinating About Your Nutrition
Nutrition requires a substantial amount of proper planning and discipline, and has little room for procrastination. Being able to eat healthy requires purchasing your food, often well in advance, preparing the food, and packing it with you to eat throughout the day. A small amount of procrastination in any point of this process can quickly derail the most iron-willed person, sending them scampering for the nearest quick calories. As athletes, weekend warriors, fitness enthusiast, and busy family members, our nutrition has one of the biggest impacts on how we feel, our performance, and our health. So how do we keep the train on the rails?
- Make a meal plan for the week or month – It doesn’t have to be complicated, but plan out the basics and make sure you know the main components of the meal.
- Plan your shopping trips into your schedule – If it doesn’t get planned it doesn’t get done.
- Make your food in advance for the day or week – Explore the world of crockpots, cooking en masse, and freezing, and doing weekly cooking prep.
- Buy travel containers to take food with you – Do you have access to a way to reheat your food? If so, try glass containers. If not, look for lightweight plastic or metal.
- Buy a water bottle – Select one that is easy for you to travel with and take it everywhere.
How to Stop Procrastinating About Your Training
Nutrition is half the battle, but just as difficult is keeping your training routine. It has been proven that training plans built on testing, statistics, progressions, and a long-term approach are the most successful. However there is also the theory that the most effective exercise is the kind you actually do. If your schedule becomes too ridged and inflexible, then you may be forced to break it. You must figure what type of training is realistic to you, given how your life looks. It has to fit the balance of your goals, your time to train, your ability to stay consistent, and your budget.
- Commit to a schedule – This can be specific with each day written out by a coach or loose like working out three times per week while on your travel schedule. Publish this schedule and put it in a place you’ll see every day.
- Plan out your training locations – Are you at home, traveling, or work? What is available to you in each of those locations?
- Find training partners – Get a workout buddy, join a class or group, or find friends you can work out with periodically to keep you motivated and accountable.
- Get help – Find a coach to work with, or if that’s not in your budget look to free online sources to help you establish and modify your plan.
- Write down your goals – It’s hard to stay motivated if you don’t have a purpose. Make sure you know why you are training and keep that written down alongside your schedule.
Staying organized and ahead of the game makes procrastination a thing of the past. With a system in place, you’ll get drastically better results while also having much less stress. Becoming efficient is a skill that takes effort, planning, and dedication. However, once you get a taste of this lifestyle, you won’t ever want to go back. Commit to becoming the person you want to be, achieving the goals you’ve set, and do the work ahead.
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