To change a habit
While I won’t say my habits are “bad” I can tell you they’re not as good as I would like.
I’ve been sporadic at best with exercise since, well, leaving school. I enjoy playing sports, I’m LOVING coaching my girls soccer team (even if it is for only half an hour a week), but for some reason, making it a habit hasn’t been as successful as I’d like. Actually, not a lot of my habits stick, at least not for long.
Lately I’ve been doing something that HAS been working.
You know how some things stick with you? I will never forget my step-mother telling me how she would practice pool on the pool table while waiting for the washing machine to finish.
What with 5 people in the house, there’s always washing to be done., and since that’s part of my morning routine I thought I would try riding my bike while that first load of washing is on in the morning.
So now at 6am instead of hitting the snooze button and going back to sleep, I’ve been staggering to the laundry and putting the first load of washing on for the 30 minute wash, and then jumping on my bike until the load is finished.
I didn’t do this all in one hit. For a week (or two) I committed to getting up and just chucking that load of washing in the machine. That was it. Surely that wasn’t too hard and even if only that became something of a habit, things would be better off .
The first few times I tried it I had a few false starts. Kids waking up earlier than normal and needing food/clothes/etc, batteries dying on the bike etc etc etc.
But it seems to be working. I’ve already lost a couple of kilo’s, but more importantly, feeling a lot better for it.
A wonderful side effect is that at least one load of washing is getting done each day. And now I’m finding it even easier to deal with that washing when I get off my bike (the bike being in the room next to the laundry) and put another one in - means 2 loads are getting washed without me having to think about it much.
And with exams just over 2 weeks away, listening to lectures as I ride is certainly reinforcing the study I’m pretending to do doing.
What tricks do you have for changing habits? How do you go about it?
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Oh yay for you… trying so hard to make exercise a habit here but we have no regular routine to speak of (DH works mental changing shifts) so I’m finding it super hard…. but you’ve inspired me!
I recently signed up for the gym, and I’m making myself go to the yoga classes. I’ve never done yoga before, but I’m loving it. I notice a difference if I don’t go, and so, while I may not have been as disciplined to go just to work out in the weight room, I’m finding it easier to get up in the morning and do the class.
Good for you for fitting laundry around it!
I managed to mop the floor the other morning before I left… the only time the kitchen isn’t inhabited!
That is great. The hardest thing to do with any exercise is to make it a habit.