or Chapter IV from Marti Soosaar’s e-book *A New Beginning*
The most important thing in the world is whatever you’re thinking about right now
If you’re not used to working out, the urge to exercise isn’t like sleep, hunger, or sexual desire—it doesn’t just start nagging at you on its own. No one has to remind us that it’s high time to put something in our stomachs or that it’s long past time to hit the sack and turn off the lights. But with exercise, if you finally start to feel that nagging urge in the pit of your stomach, you’ve probably been about 25 years too late to start.
That’s why it’s definitely a good idea to start by creating an environment around you that constantly reminds you of an active lifestyle and the importance of working out. I’ll suggest a few tricks, but you’ll definitely have to experiment with them to find what works for you.
Bring your gym bag to work.
If you plan to go to the gym after work, take your gym bag with you right away. Having the bag with you at work serves as a constant reminder that your Pilates class starts at 5:30 p.m. and you can’t send any more emails.
It’s not always easy to find the motivation to go to the gym. I’ll admit that sometimes I’m really exhausted. But I still go to the gym, and it turns out I’m not that tired once I’m there
. Another tip I have is that I’m not allowed to lie down when I get home. Put your clothes on right away and go. Don’t think about it—just go!
Kaire Leibak
, former elite athlete
Put your running shoes on the mat by the door before you leave for work.
Preferably facing inward, because you don’t want a random guest of your neighbor to “go for a run” in them in the meantime. When you get home from work and trip over your running shoes, you’ll immediately remember that you were supposed to go for a run. Also, keep in mind the tip shared by Kaire Leibak—don’t flop down on the couch or start eating; just head out right away. Kaire has been an avid runner lately, so she knows what she’s talking about.
Put a picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger on your fridge
I was reminded of good old Arnold precisely because back in my high school days, when we used to work out in the gym at the former EPA sports hall, pictures of his biceps covered every wall. Looking at those pictures helped me push through a few more reps on more than one set.
Of course, you can choose for yourself whose picture or what message motivates you, and where it will catch your eye best and at the right time.
Set up a workout corner at home
Lay out a mat and some dumbbells somewhere in your home where you’ll see them often. If you’ve set aside 4 m² of your precious living space for a workout corner, it would be a real shame if the only time—just once a week—you touched those items was on the day you dust your home.
Create a similar atmosphere at the office
By the way, you can easily set up a gym corner like this at work, too. A few weeks ago, while I was out for a run, I listened to a podcast called “Ekspordime,” which featured marketing guru Peep Laja as a guest. He’s set up a proper workout corner in his office, complete with a barbell and weights. Can you imagine having a setup like that in an open-plan office? Many people might not use it, but one thing is clear: every time that barbell catches your eye, it’ll remind you of your New Year’s resolution to work hard at the gym this year.
Around 530 training hours in 2020—it’s hard to believe I’ll do more next year. My philosophy and motto are simple: exercise has to become a habit. The hardest part of the journey is getting from the couch to the front door; the rest is easier. My goals for this year are to complete the Ironman 70.3 in Warsaw and Tallinn, and in the spring, I’d like to run a marathon in under 4 hours.
Robert Kitt
, Salv Technologies OÜ, former CEO of Swedbank Estonia
This was the fourth chapter of Marti Soosaar’s e-book “A New Beginning.” You can read the previous chapters on our blog, and you can download the entire e-book HERE.
