Hey there,
People ask me all the time how I stay motivated to exercise.
I work out nearly every day, sometimes twice a day, most days of the week.
But the truth is, these days, motivation doesn’t play much of a role in whether I work out or not. I don’t wake up in the morning and decide whether or not I’m going to work out that day — I just know I’m going to. Exercise has become such a deeply ingrained part of my identity that motivation is no longer required.
I wasn’t always this way. It took time and experimenting to create an exercise habit that worked for my lifestyle. But I now look forward to my workouts more than just about any other part of my day.
My workouts are my time to get away from all the other stressors in my life and focus on values that are important to me, like the pursuit of self-mastery, lifelong learning, and health.
They’re key to my mental health and performance as well (as anyone who knows me has encountered, I get grumpy if I don’t get enough exercise).
Maybe more than anything, my workouts have become my time to play and learn. Yes, I still do my push-ups, pull-ups, and squats, but I also train handstands, kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu. I skateboard and shoot baskets. Movement has become a fun, joyful part of my life.
If you haven’t found your thing when it comes to exercise yet, keep experimenting!
What I’m reading (article) —
The Perks of Being a Hot Mess by Arthur Brooks / The Atlantic
Do you think of yourself as a hot mess? Maybe it’s a good thing:
“We incorrectly think that others will judge us harshly for admitting to a mistake or for asking for help, when in reality people see vulnerability as sweet, or as a mark of character.”
What I’m reading (book) —
The Art of Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie
I recently took a Dale Carnegie public speaking course and was really impressed by the content. Although this book was originally published almost a century ago, the lessons are still relevant for anyone who wants to be able to speak better in front of groups or large audiences.
The best way to become a confident, effective public speaker? Practice (no surprise there). This book is full of tips on just how to practice effectively.
A quote that inspires me —
“It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday.” — Kano Jigoro, the founder of Judo
What I’m training —
Here are two short instructional videos to help you with your handstands:
- Why chest-to-wall handstands are so important (and how to do them)
- How to safely exit a chest-to-wall handstand
If there are other exercise tutorials you’d like to see, please reply to this email or leave a comment!
Three new workouts —
Get Sweaty Boxing HIIT Workout (12 minute, plyo box or equivalent)
Stronger Full Body Kettlebell Workout (12 minute, kettlebell, medicine ball)
195 Rep Kettlebell Challenge Workout (Time challenge, kettlebell)
You can get these and all future workouts right in the 12 Minute Athlete app when you subscribe as a Super Athlete.
Questions? Feedback? Content requests?
Please feel free to reply directly to this email if you have any questions or comments (yes, I am a real human). I get a lot of emails and messages, so I can’t reply to all of them, but I do read everything you guys send me!
– Krista