Take yourself off Auto-Pilot

Every morning I get up at 3:10, grab my workout cloths, get ready, run downstairs have a couple sips of coffee as I check my messages from the night (I know a habit I’m still working to fully change) and in the gym by 3:20 or 3:25 at the very latest.   From here it’s the same routine, 30-40 minutes cardio followed up with 30-35 minutes strength.  During all of this I’m listening to some type of podcast on any number of learning topics.  This habit of listening to podcasts during my workout is pretty new in the last year.  I must say it’s better then my old routine of the news. 

About a month or so ago, I wrapped up my workout and before I did my meditation, I took a step back and thought, dang, I don’t even feel like I got a good enough workout to feel it.  In haste of having to get ready for the day, I didn’t give it much thought after that.  Of course, I was sweaty and clearly had my heart-rate up, I just wasn’t feeling how I use to after a solid workout. The following day, I decided to use that experience as my “kick in the ass” to change up my “routine” and get off my usual habits. 

Generally, when I am doing intervals or running on my treadmill, I am so focused on my podcast I’m truly on auto-pilot with my workout.   On this specific day, when I was doing my interval training, I shifted my focus.  With each stride I was thinking, this is getting me closer to my health goals.   Paying attention to the strength in my legs and thinking about the benefits this is giving me.   Thinking as I paced down building a strong toned body.  By the time I wrapped up my intervals about 45 minutes later my legs truly felt the work I just put in.  I even felt it in my abs.  Following this, I turned up the music and moved over to rounds of band pull-ups and incline push-ups, totally 100 each.  On this day, during my work, I focused on how each pull made my muscles feel.  Closed my eyes and imagined the toning I was building with each push or pull.  Focused on each muscle group, feeling it build.  Now in the past, admittedly, I’ve had days I would be thinking the whole time “dang this is tough today” I made sure to be mindful of my thoughts.  I continued to think and say; this is building me stronger.  I can feel the impact I’m having on my muscles.   By the end of the workout, I can truly say, I felt that I had had the best workout I had in months.   That whole day, I truly felt as though I could conquer anything that was thrown at me.  

Since recognizing that I was stuck in auto-pilot with my workouts and using it as knowledge to stay off auto-pilot, I can say I have had the best workouts I’ve had in months.  I also feel better in my cloths then I’ve felt in a long time.  And, my patience level since taking myself back off auto-pilot has been amazing.

No matter what the experience is in life, working out, at your job, in your business, with your children or spouse, take a step back, and get off auto-pilot, the results will astound you.  
Here are a few tips I’ve learned from this experience and others throughout the years.   

1. Identify the area you want to work on and write down your goals.  I find this to be helpful with anything I am working on.  For me, I am not extremely detailed in my what/why but I find just the act of writing it down helps to get the thought stuck in my brain and conscious for memory.
   
2. When you are working on it, if something shows up in your thoughts that could distract you redirect it quickly.  As an example, as I was working to get off auto-pilot in my workouts, if I started thinking about what the day had in store, I would catch it and redirect back to how the exercise was building my health/body.
   
3. Find a way to acknowledge your accomplishments.  Not only does it feel great to celebrate our wins, but it releases the “happy chemical” dopamine in our brains. 
   
4. We all get off track, when you do just start anew the next day.  Please do not beat yourself up over it.  Each of those negative thoughts will delay your progress.   
   

Stay well my friends!

Much Love,

Jen