Hello runner friends!
Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series
MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog. Now let's get started by talking about how adopting a few lifehacks can change you and your running for the better.
Okay... so we've all heard about lifehacks right? Of course. But what is a lifehack though? Well... as defined by Google, a lifehack is a strategy or technique adopted in order to manage one's time and daily activities in a more efficient way. And why is that so important? Because as a running coach, the number one excuse I hear for a person not sticking with an exercise routine or a training plan is... "I just don't have time!" Well guess what? You are blessed with the same amount of time each day as that person who manages to work a full time job, complete grocery shopping, finish household chores, spend quality time with the family and still train for a race (a Bass Pro one of course 😉) with a smile on their face.
And while there are hundreds of lifehacks out there designed to save you time so you can have the time to run, I'm going to share the ones that have worked for me and I know to be tried and true...
Lifehack number one - This may seem so trivial but I'm going to throw it out there. MAKE YOUR BED! What does that have to do with running? Everything! Discipline begins the moment you open your eyes. Small victories early give you the boost to shoot for larger ones later helping to eliminate procrastination. Which brings me to...
Lifehack number two - Prepare and prep at night so you can get in that run before work. And if you're not a morning runner, think about becoming one so it's a priority. Anyway, let's get on with hack number two. Set out your running clothes so they are staring at you as you are making your bed. No excuses! And prep your meals! I cannot stress that enough. Although when we talk about time, grabbing fast food might save you some of it, it’s not worth it! Making ourselves better is the goal and a consistent diet of fast food is counterproductive to that.
Lifehack number three - If you are able to shower at work or have to shower quickly at home, jump in with your clothes on. You can wash them and your body at the same time eliminating the possibility that your running clothes will retain the smell and be ruined if you can’t throw them in the washer quickly. It really doesn't take much more time. This lifehack works especially great when you're on vacation and have to pack light. You can literally rotate two sets of running clothes for however long you need to.
Lifehack number four - Work with the time you have. Don't think that every run has to be the same or that you're not getting any gains if you can't run for a long time. Only have 30 minutes? Great! Do speed work or hill repeats. Here are some workouts that are 30 minutes or less.
Lifehack number five- To get in strength training, stretching, and balance training without giving up precious run time, make the most of every moment you can. Taking a conference call? Keep some weights at your desk and do bicep curls, tricep extensions and squats while you're talking. Unless it's a zoom meeting, they'll never know. And don't forget to do those runner specific stretches in between staring at your computer screen. And reading over some papers is a great time to practice your stork stand for balance, remembering that balance plays an important role in staying injury free.
Lifehack number six - Speaking of reading, use this time to better yourself mentally and spiritually too. Our bodies are just the shells our minds and souls dwell in and they perform much better when we are healthy in all areas. Listen to educational or motivational podcasts or audiobooks. Determine to learn new things. The run will not only pass quicker as your mind focuses on the information you're taking in, but you'll have used the time to become wiser.
Lifehack number seven - Go into your run with a purpose and take along a recording device. Looking for a solution to a problem at work, ideas to make your spouse's birthday party memorable, or even things to write about in your next blog? Think about those things as you rack up miles and record them as they come to mind. I can't tell you how many great ideas (at least ones I thought were great) that came to mind on a run only to be forgotten ten minutes after finishing said run. It was so frustrating that I began to speak those thoughts into my phone so I could go back and reread them. This was literally a game changer for me and I hope it is for you as well. It has saved me precious time and made me more productive. There's just something about the solitude of a long run that can help us come up with solutions. In fact, according to science, running just makes us smarter.
Lifehack number eight - When looking to get the most out of your time, remember that each second and each minute that passes by can never be regained. All the money in the world can't buy back a single second of wasted time so treat it like the precious commodity that it is and you'll be less likely to waste it. Use every moment to either make yourself better or to make someone else better; and believe me when I say that doing the latter is way more important. Serving others is the best way to achieve that maximum productivity we should all be striving for.
And so on a final note, I do hope you'll commit to memory the words of Jim Rohn who said, "He who serves the most, reaps the most.” After all, we‘re all in this race together; and if we want to make it to the finish line, we would do well to find ways to lift up our brothers and sisters when they need it knowing they will do the same when we need it. How’s that for a life hack in making life easier? 😊
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