High Fidelity Thinking
Photo: Dan Dennis
When it comes to making time for exercise, many folks think AM vs. PM, morning or evening. And for the most part, those are the two options that busy professionals can choose from. The problem is, two choices are not that many and can set you up for all-or-nothing thinking. Meaning if you do not get your first choice, you do nothing at all.
To begin solving this problem, you must first accept some simple truth: life always has the veto power to cancel your best-laid plans.
SUCCESS TIP:
Ask yourself, can your schedule adapt to accommodate your plan, or must your plan adapt to accommodate your schedule? For most corporate athletes and those striving to become one, your plan must adapt to your schedule.
So what if instead of just two options, AM vs. PM, you restructure your thinking and turn 2 into 32? Would an additional thirty choices to choose from help you fit in that workout today? Head nodding "yes," I hope.
So where does one find this mysterious trove of time, you ask? Let's take a closer look.
There are 1,440 minutes in each day.
The average workout lasts around 45 minutes.
1,440÷45=32
I call this "increasing the fidelity of your day" or "hi-fi thinking." Breaking large chunks of time into smaller bits, so you have a high resolution view of the time available. AM vs. PM is a great place to start, but don't stop there. Plan deeper into your day and have backup plans should work or life decide to throw you a curveball. Heck, have a backup plan for your backup plan if you know your schedule will be crazy for a while.
When it comes to chasing significant health or fitness goals, such as losing 50 lbs. this year or running a half-marathon, the busy professional must be creative with their time. Sure, we'd all love an uninterrupted block of three hours to do our fitness thing each day, but most real-world schedules do not behave like that. Your health and fitness strategies must remain agile. For example, on some days, your 3-mile run might need to become two 1.5 mile runs, one in the morning and the other afternoon, with a 30-minute online Pilates class in the evening while the kids are finishing their homework.
At first, hi-fi thinking may not feel permanent enough for folks who prefer to plan what they will do and do what they planned. I get it. A routine must feel sustainable if we expect our brains to buy-in. But the modern worker must learn to adapt if they are to chase demanding goals. Think of that VP in your office who is a mother and also happens to compete in triathlons. I guarantee she takes advantage of all 1,440 minutes to hit her total training requirements each day.
SUCCESS TIP:
Overall, attendance is more important than the individual effort of any one workout.
So the next time life forces you to restructure your plan, try thinking in hi-fi. There are 1,440 minutes in each day. How many workouts, large or small, will you make time for today?