5 Benefits Of Adding Music To Your Aerobics Routine
Music is a wonderful way to energize the body through aerobic workout. An aerobics music workout is a great exercise program if you love music. There are a number of different types of aerobic exercises that work well with the addition of music. Any physical activity that is continuous motion will be termed as being aerobic. Adding music to your aerobic routine can increases the intensity level. But there are advantages to adding music .An aerobics routine consisting of aerobic music will involve a great deal of fast movements, jumping as well as leaping for extended periods. Some benefits of adding music to your workout include the focus, motivation and beneficial exercise.
Focus
Adding music to your aerobics workout adds the benefit of allowing you to focus on something other than the exercise regimen. You focus on the enjoyment of the music. This focus also pushes out the day's activities and allows you to be in the moment.
Motivation
A person who is involved in an activity that is enjoyable and is beneficial will want to continue that activity. The reverse is also true. If an action is rewarded with a negative feeling or experience, that action or experience is not repeated. Therefore, if a person does not like to exercise, but combines the pleasure of music with exercise, they are more likely to continue.
Beneficial Exercise
The major benefit of adding aerobics music to your workout is the cardiovascular workout you receive. A good music workout will stimulate the heart, increase the blood flow and your breaths. Other benefits are the possibility of weight loss and weight maintenance.
It is important to remember that each of us is different. Those different factors include our age, general health and the condition of our body. Therefore, the heart beat that you wish to attain during your aerobic workout will vary.
Variety of Music
There is nothing as exciting as aerobic exercising to the tune of your favorite music. The variety to choose from includes top 40/dance to disco to Broadway hits. Some of these aerobics music albums feature perfect 32 count and offer variety to suit the musical tastes of everyone and all age groups. It should be noted that the speed of aerobic music should be between 118 to 122 Beats Per Minute.
Also, the genre of music selected can be a highly motivational factor. Generally aerobics workout music designed to give a full workout. It begins with a slower tempo to allow the body to warm up. The next stage is generally more upbeat and provides a quicker moves. The final phase is a cool down where the music returns to a slower paced tempo.
There is also another well known aerobics workout known as Jazzercise. The instructor teaches the exercise steps as well as choreographed routines that help the exerciser in his or her quest for better fitness accompanied by aerobic music.
Choreographed Videos
There are many different maneuvers in aerobics for any one person to complete them. There are notations, floor maneuvers, step maneuvers as well as a combination of floor or step maneuvers. You can find different videos and DVDs that are sure to satisfy your needs. The varieties include Step Showdown that lasts for 120 minutes. It is a type of step aerobics and dance combined, using choreographed music.
Another, Aerobic & Dance Showdown is another aerobics video that lasts 140 minutes presenting aerobic and dance choreography accompanied by hot music. It includes low impact aerobics mix. Dance Off video is packed with choreographed steps.
Non-traditional videos include Latin and Jazz infuse a passion in the moves. Aerobics exercisers enjoy them for increasing movements and learning new dance styles. Using choreographed aerobics music videos are useful for beginners with little or no experience as well as intermediate and advanced level users.
Sometimes, there is nothing to beat entering a gym where the fitness class is working out with aerobic music. It helps set the mood for the exercisers. It's impossible to imagine a step or spinning class without the correct music to provide the right rhythm. Adding music to your aerobic workout is a fun experience, gives you motivation to continue and offers healthy benefits.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Folding Treadmill - What To Know Before You Buy
# Folding Treadmill - What To Know Before You Buy By : Vienna Miller
Buying a folding treadmill? Folding treadmills offer both advantages and disadvantages over non-folding units. Here's what you need to know before you go out to shop for folding treadmills.
# Best Treadmill Value - How To Find High Value Treadmills in a Crowded Market By : Vienna Miller
Looking for the best treadmill value? The treadmill market is growing more and more crowded each year. This article will give you 4 key attributes of high value treadmills so you can make an informed decision and find the best treadmill value for you.
# The Benefits of Using a Treadmill for Your Cardio Exercise By : Steve Welker
Everyone needs to exercise to remain healthy. Learn how a treadmill can make this easier and more pleasant.
# The Benefits of a Treadmill By :
There are many benefits of a treadmill such as losing weight and improving your health.
# Treadmill Weight Loss Tips - 10 Reasons To Use A Home Treadmill For Weight Loss By : Rika Susan
A treadmill may give your body just the boost it needs to banish the battle of the bulge forever. While your diet and nutrition plan is important, exercise gets your metabolism revved up and into an optimal fat-burning state. Here are the reasons behind the phenomenal fat-burning feats of the home treadmill.
# Shopping For Treadmills Made Easy By : Helen Hecker
The treadmill was one of the first pieces of home fitness equipment appealing to walkers, joggers, runners and a wide range of people. The home treadmill has experienced substantial growth over the past few years.
# Save Your Money - Shop For Discount Treadmills Online By : Helen Hecker
You can read a book or watch over the kids while you work out on a treadmill. Checking out treadmill ratings and treadmill reviews are an absolute must. Treadmills have become the hottest home exercise equipment choice.
# The Benefits of Using a Treadmill for Your Cardio Exercise By : Steve Welker
Everyone needs to exercise to remain healthy. Learn how a treadmill can make this easier and more pleasant.
# Great Money-Saving Tips For Treadmill Shoppers By : Helen Hecker
A treadmill can easily be set up in front of your television or plug it into your headphones.
# What You Must Know Before You Buy Any Treadmill By : Helen Hecker
If you are yet to invest in a serious piece of indoor exercise fitness equipment like a treadmill then never fear because help is at hand. Shopping for a treadmill can be very overwhelming for a lot of buyers. Treadmills have become the hottest home exercise equipment choice.
# Buying A Treadmill -- What You Need To Know By : Helen Hecker
Of all the various types of home exercise equipment that have come and gone, the home exercise treadmill has lasted throughout the years. Treadmills are simple to use. There are many competing models of treadmills to choose between.
# Save Your Money - Shop The Easy Way For Treadmills By : Helen Hecker
Today's best rated treadmills can do anything your training demands such as hills, intervals, tempo, long distance, and anything else you can do on a treadmill. The home treadmill has experienced substantial growth over the past few years. The quality and features of any treadmill is reflected in the price of the treadmill.
# How To Shop Wisely For A Treadmill By : Helen Hecker
The home treadmill has experienced substantial growth over the past few years. Treadmills are designed to enhance the most popular form of exercise - walking, jogging and running. Shopping for a treadmill can be very overwhelming for a lot of buyers.
# Some Of The Best Tips For Buying a Treadmill By : Helen Hecker
Basic treadmill models can start at $100 and can go up to $5000. Treadmills have become the hottest home exercise equipment choice. There are many competing models of treadmills to choose between.
# Treadmills, a Great Form of Exercise By : Chun Yin Yu
A great form of exercise is walking on a treadmill. Walking has always been good for your heart. The problem with walking though, is that you can't do it in the rain, it's not fun when it's cold, and these days it can even be dangerous.
# A Great Form of Exercise Equipment is the Home Treadmill By : Jerry Cahill
Do you need to be able to exercise in all types of weather? A home treadmill may be just what you need.
# Top Tips for Choosing the Right Treadmill By : Craig Rad
Choosing a treadmill is not quite that easy as most people think. You will definitely hit yourself on a couple of important questions when choosing a treadmill, questions like: What model should I choose?, What should I take into consideration when choosing a treadmill? or Where will I be able to use an exercise machine?
# What Features Are Best In An Exercise Treadmill By : Jerry Cahill
Do you need some home exercise equipment? Did you you that an exercise treadmill provides the best overall exercise.
# A Treadmill Exercise Routine Provides Advantages for Your Health By : Jerry Cahill
Taking control of the exercise is important for a good treadmill exercise routine. Treadmill exercise routines provide the typical benefits of a cardio exercise. One idea for a treadmill exercise routine is to create a 3 month plan.
# Treadmill Running Tips By : Susie Cortright
Treadmills ensure that the runner in you never has to sit out for a season. Here are a few points to consider when you begin your treadmill running regimen.
# Do I Really Want A Landice Treadmill? By : Peter Crump
So is there anything so great about a Landice treadmill or not?
# The Trotter Treadmill - Too Expensive For Me? By : Peter Crump
A Trotter treadmill is definitely not the cheapest treadmill around, but is it good value?
# How Investing In A Treadmill For Your Home My Actually Save Your Life By : Gregg Hall
Studies prove that regular daily exercise decreases heart disease and may help to ward off some cancers. By combining exercise and a healthy diet not only will you feel better but you will also live longer.
# Some Ideas To Help You Revamp Your Treadmill Workout And Make It Less Boring By : Gregg Hall
Treadmills are an excellent way to lose excess weight and stay in shape. Walking has long been known for the great health benefits it provides. Heart disease, some cancers and everyday illness are less likely to occur in healthy adults who make exercise a part of their daily activities.
# Commercial Grade Treadmill Review By : Kathryn ONeill
Looking for a commercial grade treadmill? Here's a quick reviw of what you need to know about commercial grade treadmills including how they different from home treadmills and commercial treadmills.
# Treadmill Comparison: 3 Things You Must Know When Shopping For Treadmills By : Kathryn ONeill
Buying a treadmill? You'll probably be making several treadmill comparisons to find the right treadmill for your needs. Here are 3 ways to make effective treadmill comparisons so you can avoid buying a 'lemon' and wasting your money.
# I Want A Proform Treadmill. Are They Any Good? By : Peter Crump
Is a Proform Treadmill the best treadmill around, or does it have some limitations?
# Discount Treadmills, Do You Get What You Pay For? By : Peter Crump
Finding a bargain discount treadmill can sometimes be a mistake, if its not the right treadmill for you
# Horizon Treadmills, Great Product, Lousy Service By : Peter Crump
A great treadmill and great service should go together, but dont always seem to.
# Treadmill Facts: The No-Nonsense Method Of Losing Weight By : Brooke Hayles
You lose a tremendous amount of weight when you exercise on a treadmill. The best part is that even elderly people can exercise at their own pace in their homes. For people who do not have an active lifestyle, walking is one of the best exercises to begin weight loss. A treadmill is therefore one of the must-haves if you want to lose weight.
# Things To Ponder Before Buying A Treadmill By : Susan Jan
Did you know that more than 37 million people use treadmills? They are popular as exercising on treadmills is easy for just about anyone who knows how to walk or run. Using a treadmill is also a great way for people to stay in shape.
# Who Dominates The Treadmill Reviews? Smooth Treadmills By : Peter Crump
The majority of treadmill reviews are extremely accurate, and Smooth Treadmills seems to occupy a prime location in almost all of them.
# Exercise Treadmill – Walking to Your Health By : NamSing Then
Exercise treadmill is a home exercise equipment but used also by cardiologists. It is also well known in the medical circles by many alternative names such as exercise ECG, Stress test - exercise treadmill, EKG - exercise treadmill etc. But before we get onto see the medical relevance of this wonderful simple exercise equipment, let us see what it does to our everyday life and how.
# Incline Treadmill Review By : Kathryn ONeill
Everything you need to know about incline treadmills including calories burned, high incline treadmill options and which incline would be best for you.
# How to Choose the Best Treadmill By : John Mac
Which is the best treadmill for you. Some factors you should consider before choosing the best treadmill for you.
# Buying A Treadmill - 3 Essential Tips By : Kathryn ONeill
Buying a treadmill? Here are 3 buying tips that most people don't know. They'll save you money and keep you from buying a lemon.
# How To Choose The Best Home Treadmill By : Jim Johnson
Home treadmills are very popular fitness exercise machines. In fact, they easily outsell all other exercise machines, no doubt because everyone is aware of the health benefits of walking and running.
# Compare Treadmills Carefully To Find Quality By : Jim Johnson
The aerobic benefits of walking and running are well documented, and perhaps you have decided to add this form of exercise to your daily workout schedule too.
# A Look At The Treadmill By : Gregg Hall
When you step into the gym for the first time, it can be overwhelming to see the variety of machines for you to choose from. How do you tell which machine is the best one to meet your needs?
# Where To Find Accurate Treadmill Ratings & Treadmill Reviews By : Bob Hett
Let's face it, buying a used treadmill is always going to be something of a gamble. For many people, the sticker price of new treadmills can be daunting. A very basic treadmill can start as little as $400, and the premium models with all the bells and whistles can be over $3000. So many people opt for a used or discount treadmill hoping to save some money.
# Today's Top Tips For Buying A Treadmill By : Jon Butt
Tips for buying any treadmill usually focus on the capabilities, features, type of use, and, of course, the cost of a treadmill, but all of that depends on you
# Discount Treadmill: 3 Ways To Save When Buying A Treadmill By : Kathryn ONeill
Want a discount on your treadmill? Here are 3 simple ways to save money when buying a treadmill.
# Treadmill Walking: 5 Tips To Supercharge Your Calorie Burn By : Kathryn ONeill
Want to burn more calories on your treadmill? Here are 5 essential treadmill walking tips to supercharge your calorie burn.
# What's So Important About The Consumer Reports Treadmill Best Buy? By : Jon Butt
Consumer Reports grades on an overall score to determine its Best treadmill and also suggests four treadmill Best Buy models that combine good value with quality
# Buying A Treadmill? - 3 Reasons Not To By : Mike Singh
Considering the purchase of a treadmill? Don't waste your money. Here are some facts that you should consider before your next purchase.
# Tips to Buy a Good Treadmill By : James Hunt
Buying treadmills can a be a daunting task and if you are not sure what you are looking for then you could end up with something that is totally wrong for you...
# Best Home Treadmill: 4 Key Features You Need To Look For By : Kathryn ONeill
Looking for the best home treadmill? Here are 4 key ingredients to a high quality home treadmill you need to look for when searching for the best treadmill for you.
Buying a folding treadmill? Folding treadmills offer both advantages and disadvantages over non-folding units. Here's what you need to know before you go out to shop for folding treadmills.
# Best Treadmill Value - How To Find High Value Treadmills in a Crowded Market By : Vienna Miller
Looking for the best treadmill value? The treadmill market is growing more and more crowded each year. This article will give you 4 key attributes of high value treadmills so you can make an informed decision and find the best treadmill value for you.
# The Benefits of Using a Treadmill for Your Cardio Exercise By : Steve Welker
Everyone needs to exercise to remain healthy. Learn how a treadmill can make this easier and more pleasant.
# The Benefits of a Treadmill By :
There are many benefits of a treadmill such as losing weight and improving your health.
# Treadmill Weight Loss Tips - 10 Reasons To Use A Home Treadmill For Weight Loss By : Rika Susan
A treadmill may give your body just the boost it needs to banish the battle of the bulge forever. While your diet and nutrition plan is important, exercise gets your metabolism revved up and into an optimal fat-burning state. Here are the reasons behind the phenomenal fat-burning feats of the home treadmill.
# Shopping For Treadmills Made Easy By : Helen Hecker
The treadmill was one of the first pieces of home fitness equipment appealing to walkers, joggers, runners and a wide range of people. The home treadmill has experienced substantial growth over the past few years.
# Save Your Money - Shop For Discount Treadmills Online By : Helen Hecker
You can read a book or watch over the kids while you work out on a treadmill. Checking out treadmill ratings and treadmill reviews are an absolute must. Treadmills have become the hottest home exercise equipment choice.
# The Benefits of Using a Treadmill for Your Cardio Exercise By : Steve Welker
Everyone needs to exercise to remain healthy. Learn how a treadmill can make this easier and more pleasant.
# Great Money-Saving Tips For Treadmill Shoppers By : Helen Hecker
A treadmill can easily be set up in front of your television or plug it into your headphones.
# What You Must Know Before You Buy Any Treadmill By : Helen Hecker
If you are yet to invest in a serious piece of indoor exercise fitness equipment like a treadmill then never fear because help is at hand. Shopping for a treadmill can be very overwhelming for a lot of buyers. Treadmills have become the hottest home exercise equipment choice.
# Buying A Treadmill -- What You Need To Know By : Helen Hecker
Of all the various types of home exercise equipment that have come and gone, the home exercise treadmill has lasted throughout the years. Treadmills are simple to use. There are many competing models of treadmills to choose between.
# Save Your Money - Shop The Easy Way For Treadmills By : Helen Hecker
Today's best rated treadmills can do anything your training demands such as hills, intervals, tempo, long distance, and anything else you can do on a treadmill. The home treadmill has experienced substantial growth over the past few years. The quality and features of any treadmill is reflected in the price of the treadmill.
# How To Shop Wisely For A Treadmill By : Helen Hecker
The home treadmill has experienced substantial growth over the past few years. Treadmills are designed to enhance the most popular form of exercise - walking, jogging and running. Shopping for a treadmill can be very overwhelming for a lot of buyers.
# Some Of The Best Tips For Buying a Treadmill By : Helen Hecker
Basic treadmill models can start at $100 and can go up to $5000. Treadmills have become the hottest home exercise equipment choice. There are many competing models of treadmills to choose between.
# Treadmills, a Great Form of Exercise By : Chun Yin Yu
A great form of exercise is walking on a treadmill. Walking has always been good for your heart. The problem with walking though, is that you can't do it in the rain, it's not fun when it's cold, and these days it can even be dangerous.
# A Great Form of Exercise Equipment is the Home Treadmill By : Jerry Cahill
Do you need to be able to exercise in all types of weather? A home treadmill may be just what you need.
# Top Tips for Choosing the Right Treadmill By : Craig Rad
Choosing a treadmill is not quite that easy as most people think. You will definitely hit yourself on a couple of important questions when choosing a treadmill, questions like: What model should I choose?, What should I take into consideration when choosing a treadmill? or Where will I be able to use an exercise machine?
# What Features Are Best In An Exercise Treadmill By : Jerry Cahill
Do you need some home exercise equipment? Did you you that an exercise treadmill provides the best overall exercise.
# A Treadmill Exercise Routine Provides Advantages for Your Health By : Jerry Cahill
Taking control of the exercise is important for a good treadmill exercise routine. Treadmill exercise routines provide the typical benefits of a cardio exercise. One idea for a treadmill exercise routine is to create a 3 month plan.
# Treadmill Running Tips By : Susie Cortright
Treadmills ensure that the runner in you never has to sit out for a season. Here are a few points to consider when you begin your treadmill running regimen.
# Do I Really Want A Landice Treadmill? By : Peter Crump
So is there anything so great about a Landice treadmill or not?
# The Trotter Treadmill - Too Expensive For Me? By : Peter Crump
A Trotter treadmill is definitely not the cheapest treadmill around, but is it good value?
# How Investing In A Treadmill For Your Home My Actually Save Your Life By : Gregg Hall
Studies prove that regular daily exercise decreases heart disease and may help to ward off some cancers. By combining exercise and a healthy diet not only will you feel better but you will also live longer.
# Some Ideas To Help You Revamp Your Treadmill Workout And Make It Less Boring By : Gregg Hall
Treadmills are an excellent way to lose excess weight and stay in shape. Walking has long been known for the great health benefits it provides. Heart disease, some cancers and everyday illness are less likely to occur in healthy adults who make exercise a part of their daily activities.
# Commercial Grade Treadmill Review By : Kathryn ONeill
Looking for a commercial grade treadmill? Here's a quick reviw of what you need to know about commercial grade treadmills including how they different from home treadmills and commercial treadmills.
# Treadmill Comparison: 3 Things You Must Know When Shopping For Treadmills By : Kathryn ONeill
Buying a treadmill? You'll probably be making several treadmill comparisons to find the right treadmill for your needs. Here are 3 ways to make effective treadmill comparisons so you can avoid buying a 'lemon' and wasting your money.
# I Want A Proform Treadmill. Are They Any Good? By : Peter Crump
Is a Proform Treadmill the best treadmill around, or does it have some limitations?
# Discount Treadmills, Do You Get What You Pay For? By : Peter Crump
Finding a bargain discount treadmill can sometimes be a mistake, if its not the right treadmill for you
# Horizon Treadmills, Great Product, Lousy Service By : Peter Crump
A great treadmill and great service should go together, but dont always seem to.
# Treadmill Facts: The No-Nonsense Method Of Losing Weight By : Brooke Hayles
You lose a tremendous amount of weight when you exercise on a treadmill. The best part is that even elderly people can exercise at their own pace in their homes. For people who do not have an active lifestyle, walking is one of the best exercises to begin weight loss. A treadmill is therefore one of the must-haves if you want to lose weight.
# Things To Ponder Before Buying A Treadmill By : Susan Jan
Did you know that more than 37 million people use treadmills? They are popular as exercising on treadmills is easy for just about anyone who knows how to walk or run. Using a treadmill is also a great way for people to stay in shape.
# Who Dominates The Treadmill Reviews? Smooth Treadmills By : Peter Crump
The majority of treadmill reviews are extremely accurate, and Smooth Treadmills seems to occupy a prime location in almost all of them.
# Exercise Treadmill – Walking to Your Health By : NamSing Then
Exercise treadmill is a home exercise equipment but used also by cardiologists. It is also well known in the medical circles by many alternative names such as exercise ECG, Stress test - exercise treadmill, EKG - exercise treadmill etc. But before we get onto see the medical relevance of this wonderful simple exercise equipment, let us see what it does to our everyday life and how.
# Incline Treadmill Review By : Kathryn ONeill
Everything you need to know about incline treadmills including calories burned, high incline treadmill options and which incline would be best for you.
# How to Choose the Best Treadmill By : John Mac
Which is the best treadmill for you. Some factors you should consider before choosing the best treadmill for you.
# Buying A Treadmill - 3 Essential Tips By : Kathryn ONeill
Buying a treadmill? Here are 3 buying tips that most people don't know. They'll save you money and keep you from buying a lemon.
# How To Choose The Best Home Treadmill By : Jim Johnson
Home treadmills are very popular fitness exercise machines. In fact, they easily outsell all other exercise machines, no doubt because everyone is aware of the health benefits of walking and running.
# Compare Treadmills Carefully To Find Quality By : Jim Johnson
The aerobic benefits of walking and running are well documented, and perhaps you have decided to add this form of exercise to your daily workout schedule too.
# A Look At The Treadmill By : Gregg Hall
When you step into the gym for the first time, it can be overwhelming to see the variety of machines for you to choose from. How do you tell which machine is the best one to meet your needs?
# Where To Find Accurate Treadmill Ratings & Treadmill Reviews By : Bob Hett
Let's face it, buying a used treadmill is always going to be something of a gamble. For many people, the sticker price of new treadmills can be daunting. A very basic treadmill can start as little as $400, and the premium models with all the bells and whistles can be over $3000. So many people opt for a used or discount treadmill hoping to save some money.
# Today's Top Tips For Buying A Treadmill By : Jon Butt
Tips for buying any treadmill usually focus on the capabilities, features, type of use, and, of course, the cost of a treadmill, but all of that depends on you
# Discount Treadmill: 3 Ways To Save When Buying A Treadmill By : Kathryn ONeill
Want a discount on your treadmill? Here are 3 simple ways to save money when buying a treadmill.
# Treadmill Walking: 5 Tips To Supercharge Your Calorie Burn By : Kathryn ONeill
Want to burn more calories on your treadmill? Here are 5 essential treadmill walking tips to supercharge your calorie burn.
# What's So Important About The Consumer Reports Treadmill Best Buy? By : Jon Butt
Consumer Reports grades on an overall score to determine its Best treadmill and also suggests four treadmill Best Buy models that combine good value with quality
# Buying A Treadmill? - 3 Reasons Not To By : Mike Singh
Considering the purchase of a treadmill? Don't waste your money. Here are some facts that you should consider before your next purchase.
# Tips to Buy a Good Treadmill By : James Hunt
Buying treadmills can a be a daunting task and if you are not sure what you are looking for then you could end up with something that is totally wrong for you...
# Best Home Treadmill: 4 Key Features You Need To Look For By : Kathryn ONeill
Looking for the best home treadmill? Here are 4 key ingredients to a high quality home treadmill you need to look for when searching for the best treadmill for you.
Why New Years Resolutions are Stupid
Yep, it's that time of the year again.
The time when we all tell ourselves (and everyone within earshot) just how dramatically our life is about to change. Of course it is. Of course we do. Just like we did the last twenty New Year's eves. And didn't all those resolutions work out well for us? Many of us are champion resolution makers. Beyond that, not so good. The making, good. The doing, not so good. If you're like the vast majority, then right now you're about three days into your new life.
How's that workin' out?
Sure, we would have made those necessary changes earlier than now, but we all know that you can't do it in October or November, and don't even talk to me about December; that would be simply ridiculous. January is the official 'start-time' for change. Apparently. Yep, richer, thinner, happier, more relaxed, more balanced, healthier; different. It's all about to happen. For a week at least. This year, we may even stretch it to two.
Of course you don't need to be a research scientist to know that the vast majority of New Year's resolutions ultimately amount to nothing. Nothing positive anyway. But we continue with the stupid tradition nonetheless. Just watch your friends, family and colleagues over the next few days, weeks and months. Then again, probably just days and weeks. And take a peek at your past while you're at it. Unless you're the exception, there's been lots of talk, lots of great intentions and lots of amazing ideas over the years, but very little in the way of lasting change. If we're completely honest; probably a bunch of hot air and very little results. Moments of greatness but overall, kinda disappointing.
"Yep, this is my year".
"No, really".
"Hey, stop laughing".
You know it, we all know it, we've all done it.
As a collective of people, we continue to do the same thing every year; make a bunch of promises to ourselves that we never keep. We get excited for about eight minutes and then we fall back into our old ways. It's what we do. It's not so much life-long change, as it is a momentary phase. Short term behavioural change.
Kind of like flatulence; comes and goes and makes us feel better for a moment.
And sometimes embarrassed. But I digress. Again. Even in 2008 I'm doing it.
Yet despite our abysmal track record and a vast wasteland of shattered dreams, we continue to approach every New Year the same way; with the same dumb, pointless strategy. They say that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome", so I guess on some level, a whole bunch of us are insane because that's exactly what we do. Like a broken record stuck in the same groove, repeating the same line over and over.
I apologise if I sound like the voice of gloom to this point in the lesson, but my intention is in fact to be the voice of reality, logic, honesty and life-long change; to tell you the no BS truth about this stuff. Twenty five years of watching and working with people in the area of 'change' has taught me that sometimes, what we need to hear, is not what we want to hear. And if we're really serious about the 'different forever' thing, then we need to learn that the New Year is not the right time for making resolutions. In fact, the right time has nothing to do with a date on a calendar and everything to do with us as individuals; our level of emotional, psychological and physical commitment to achieve our goals. Our readiness for the journey.
If we're genuinely prepared to do whatever it takes (that is, we are totally committed), then it's the right time. Whether it's January 1 or March 16 makes absolutely no difference. What determines success or failure is not what date we start something, but whether or not we have the mindset, the emotional toughness and the self-control to get the job done. Sadly, we live in a culture which teaches that new beginnings start on January 1. And we continue to perpetuate this stupid psychology despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Whatever you do, don't let logic or common sense get in the way.
As you know by now, I'm not interested in making you feel good for five minutes. But I am interested in helping you achieve something that's probably eluded you for too long; permanent results. Your best life. Or at the very least, a better life. Neither am I interested in resolutions that are made in the midst of food, alcohol, emotion and crowds. They are likely to create short-term change at best. No, I'm interested in sensible, proven methods which are most likely to create 'forever' results. I'm interested in, and passionate about you maximising your chances of success, because the 'traditional approach' (for want of a better term) to creating change (ritual goal-setting at New Year), ain't cuttin' it. New Year's resolutions rarely lead to anything other than short-term change. That's a fact Jack.
So how do we make it stick this time?
1. Ya gotta do different to create different. Whatever you did last time (remember last year?), don't do that. Whatever it was, it didn't work right? So don't do it again. There's a reason you didn't get there last time. What is it? Address it. Not rocket science is it? Too many people consistently do what doesn't work because they are creatures of habit. Unproductive habit. They love familiarity, no matter how pointless it is.
2. Punch yourself in the head. Hurts doesn't it? Get used to a little pain. Give yourself an uppercut each morning. If you're pretty, make it a rip in the guts instead; don't wanna damage those looks. If you want to totally avoid pain, discomfort and risk, then don't set goals, don't have any ambition and learn to be happy where you are. Forever. Significant change is often uncomfortable and messy, so toughen up. Get your head around that concept and you will dramatically improve your chances of getting where you wanna go. The results are worth it but the journey might be a little bumpy from time to time. You want spectacular results? Then saddle up cowgirl. Er, boy. Whatever.
3. Don't make resolutions after you've had three hundred beers.
"But Craig, it made so much sense at the time". Yes, we might be less inhibited when we're drunk but we're also less intelligent. Anecdotal evidence would suggest that inebriation is not the greatest platform from which to plan the rest of your life.
4. Don't start planning the 'new you' thirty minutes before the New Year ticks over. Probably not gonna make the best decisions from there. May wanna give your 'best life' a little more thought than that (call me old-fashioned). Goal setting, planning and preparation for life-long change can be a process which takes weeks or months.
5. Don't start something you probably won't or can't maintain. "Right, that's it; I'm running every day from, now on". Hey Champ, why don't you start with two or three days per week? "That's it, I'm never eating junk food again". Well, nice intention but you probably won't maintain that commitment for the next fifty years! Maybe ease into it a little. Too many of us simply start things which are virtually impossible to maintain over the long haul. It's not about the next four weeks; it's about the next four decades (or so). Extreme never works. Be completely realistic in your approach. More logic, less emotion. Emotion is good, but only to a point. It needs to be wrapped around some logic. Emotion all on it's own has a propensity to be somewhat destructive. Kind of like a Ferrari; can be amazing, but needs to be driven properly.
6. Don't try and change too many things at once. Too many people fail because they try to 'undo' decades of destructive behaviour in three weeks. Ain't gonna happen. Make it a sensible, practical, progressive process. When I mentor people, we aim to make one or two lasting changes per week, not seventy five. Trying to change too much too quickly will typically lead to one thing; disappointment. However, in life or death situations (that is, no other choice), we often see people make numerous monumental changes in a relatively short period of time. Pity some of us wait for death to knock on the door before we get serious about changing our destructive habits. Stupid also.
7. Don't make big (egotistical, emotional, stupid) public declarations. They rarely amount to anything good. Resolutions should be well-thought-through commitments (usually made in private after appropriate consideration).
8. Don't throw in the towel every time you stumble. Messing up (breaking a diet for example) is only a failure if you call it that. Messing up is normal. Giving up is pathetic. Get back on that horse and stop your whining and sulking. If you find this language offensive, you're too precious and I'm probably not the right coach for you. Re-read point two. And give yourself that uppercut.
9. Don't make resolutions because it's January. Make resolutions because you're absolutely ready to change. Not pseudo-ready (like the last ten times). Not 'allegedly' ready. Not 'almost' ready. No, R-E-A-D-Y!! And don't let others goal set for you. Don't be pressured into making certain resolutions. The desire for real change needs to come from, and be driven by, you.
10. Have monthly evaluations. A pit stop of sorts. Stop, get out of the car, kick the tyres, put it up on the hoist and check that everything is working and progressing as it should. If it ain't broken just keep driving. If you're veering to the left or something's rattling, make the necessary adjustments, get back in and keep heading towards your destination. If need be, see your mechanic (mentor, coach, trainer, ass-kicker), she might be more objective or informed about the state of your 'car' than you are. These pit-stops are great for keeping you accountable and moving in the right direction. For me, they have always been one of the most important ingredients. You want forever results? Then make yourself accountable.
Well there you have it; there is no right time, but there is a right 'state'. Creating lasting change is not about a particular day of the year, it's about whether or not you're ready to stop making resolutions and to start changing. Forever.
If not, there's always next New Years Eve.
The time when we all tell ourselves (and everyone within earshot) just how dramatically our life is about to change. Of course it is. Of course we do. Just like we did the last twenty New Year's eves. And didn't all those resolutions work out well for us? Many of us are champion resolution makers. Beyond that, not so good. The making, good. The doing, not so good. If you're like the vast majority, then right now you're about three days into your new life.
How's that workin' out?
Sure, we would have made those necessary changes earlier than now, but we all know that you can't do it in October or November, and don't even talk to me about December; that would be simply ridiculous. January is the official 'start-time' for change. Apparently. Yep, richer, thinner, happier, more relaxed, more balanced, healthier; different. It's all about to happen. For a week at least. This year, we may even stretch it to two.
Of course you don't need to be a research scientist to know that the vast majority of New Year's resolutions ultimately amount to nothing. Nothing positive anyway. But we continue with the stupid tradition nonetheless. Just watch your friends, family and colleagues over the next few days, weeks and months. Then again, probably just days and weeks. And take a peek at your past while you're at it. Unless you're the exception, there's been lots of talk, lots of great intentions and lots of amazing ideas over the years, but very little in the way of lasting change. If we're completely honest; probably a bunch of hot air and very little results. Moments of greatness but overall, kinda disappointing.
"Yep, this is my year".
"No, really".
"Hey, stop laughing".
You know it, we all know it, we've all done it.
As a collective of people, we continue to do the same thing every year; make a bunch of promises to ourselves that we never keep. We get excited for about eight minutes and then we fall back into our old ways. It's what we do. It's not so much life-long change, as it is a momentary phase. Short term behavioural change.
Kind of like flatulence; comes and goes and makes us feel better for a moment.
And sometimes embarrassed. But I digress. Again. Even in 2008 I'm doing it.
Yet despite our abysmal track record and a vast wasteland of shattered dreams, we continue to approach every New Year the same way; with the same dumb, pointless strategy. They say that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome", so I guess on some level, a whole bunch of us are insane because that's exactly what we do. Like a broken record stuck in the same groove, repeating the same line over and over.
I apologise if I sound like the voice of gloom to this point in the lesson, but my intention is in fact to be the voice of reality, logic, honesty and life-long change; to tell you the no BS truth about this stuff. Twenty five years of watching and working with people in the area of 'change' has taught me that sometimes, what we need to hear, is not what we want to hear. And if we're really serious about the 'different forever' thing, then we need to learn that the New Year is not the right time for making resolutions. In fact, the right time has nothing to do with a date on a calendar and everything to do with us as individuals; our level of emotional, psychological and physical commitment to achieve our goals. Our readiness for the journey.
If we're genuinely prepared to do whatever it takes (that is, we are totally committed), then it's the right time. Whether it's January 1 or March 16 makes absolutely no difference. What determines success or failure is not what date we start something, but whether or not we have the mindset, the emotional toughness and the self-control to get the job done. Sadly, we live in a culture which teaches that new beginnings start on January 1. And we continue to perpetuate this stupid psychology despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Whatever you do, don't let logic or common sense get in the way.
As you know by now, I'm not interested in making you feel good for five minutes. But I am interested in helping you achieve something that's probably eluded you for too long; permanent results. Your best life. Or at the very least, a better life. Neither am I interested in resolutions that are made in the midst of food, alcohol, emotion and crowds. They are likely to create short-term change at best. No, I'm interested in sensible, proven methods which are most likely to create 'forever' results. I'm interested in, and passionate about you maximising your chances of success, because the 'traditional approach' (for want of a better term) to creating change (ritual goal-setting at New Year), ain't cuttin' it. New Year's resolutions rarely lead to anything other than short-term change. That's a fact Jack.
So how do we make it stick this time?
1. Ya gotta do different to create different. Whatever you did last time (remember last year?), don't do that. Whatever it was, it didn't work right? So don't do it again. There's a reason you didn't get there last time. What is it? Address it. Not rocket science is it? Too many people consistently do what doesn't work because they are creatures of habit. Unproductive habit. They love familiarity, no matter how pointless it is.
2. Punch yourself in the head. Hurts doesn't it? Get used to a little pain. Give yourself an uppercut each morning. If you're pretty, make it a rip in the guts instead; don't wanna damage those looks. If you want to totally avoid pain, discomfort and risk, then don't set goals, don't have any ambition and learn to be happy where you are. Forever. Significant change is often uncomfortable and messy, so toughen up. Get your head around that concept and you will dramatically improve your chances of getting where you wanna go. The results are worth it but the journey might be a little bumpy from time to time. You want spectacular results? Then saddle up cowgirl. Er, boy. Whatever.
3. Don't make resolutions after you've had three hundred beers.
"But Craig, it made so much sense at the time". Yes, we might be less inhibited when we're drunk but we're also less intelligent. Anecdotal evidence would suggest that inebriation is not the greatest platform from which to plan the rest of your life.
4. Don't start planning the 'new you' thirty minutes before the New Year ticks over. Probably not gonna make the best decisions from there. May wanna give your 'best life' a little more thought than that (call me old-fashioned). Goal setting, planning and preparation for life-long change can be a process which takes weeks or months.
5. Don't start something you probably won't or can't maintain. "Right, that's it; I'm running every day from, now on". Hey Champ, why don't you start with two or three days per week? "That's it, I'm never eating junk food again". Well, nice intention but you probably won't maintain that commitment for the next fifty years! Maybe ease into it a little. Too many of us simply start things which are virtually impossible to maintain over the long haul. It's not about the next four weeks; it's about the next four decades (or so). Extreme never works. Be completely realistic in your approach. More logic, less emotion. Emotion is good, but only to a point. It needs to be wrapped around some logic. Emotion all on it's own has a propensity to be somewhat destructive. Kind of like a Ferrari; can be amazing, but needs to be driven properly.
6. Don't try and change too many things at once. Too many people fail because they try to 'undo' decades of destructive behaviour in three weeks. Ain't gonna happen. Make it a sensible, practical, progressive process. When I mentor people, we aim to make one or two lasting changes per week, not seventy five. Trying to change too much too quickly will typically lead to one thing; disappointment. However, in life or death situations (that is, no other choice), we often see people make numerous monumental changes in a relatively short period of time. Pity some of us wait for death to knock on the door before we get serious about changing our destructive habits. Stupid also.
7. Don't make big (egotistical, emotional, stupid) public declarations. They rarely amount to anything good. Resolutions should be well-thought-through commitments (usually made in private after appropriate consideration).
8. Don't throw in the towel every time you stumble. Messing up (breaking a diet for example) is only a failure if you call it that. Messing up is normal. Giving up is pathetic. Get back on that horse and stop your whining and sulking. If you find this language offensive, you're too precious and I'm probably not the right coach for you. Re-read point two. And give yourself that uppercut.
9. Don't make resolutions because it's January. Make resolutions because you're absolutely ready to change. Not pseudo-ready (like the last ten times). Not 'allegedly' ready. Not 'almost' ready. No, R-E-A-D-Y!! And don't let others goal set for you. Don't be pressured into making certain resolutions. The desire for real change needs to come from, and be driven by, you.
10. Have monthly evaluations. A pit stop of sorts. Stop, get out of the car, kick the tyres, put it up on the hoist and check that everything is working and progressing as it should. If it ain't broken just keep driving. If you're veering to the left or something's rattling, make the necessary adjustments, get back in and keep heading towards your destination. If need be, see your mechanic (mentor, coach, trainer, ass-kicker), she might be more objective or informed about the state of your 'car' than you are. These pit-stops are great for keeping you accountable and moving in the right direction. For me, they have always been one of the most important ingredients. You want forever results? Then make yourself accountable.
Well there you have it; there is no right time, but there is a right 'state'. Creating lasting change is not about a particular day of the year, it's about whether or not you're ready to stop making resolutions and to start changing. Forever.
If not, there's always next New Years Eve.
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