It’s getting up on that time of year when people set resolutions.  It’s all over the place – what resolutions do you want to set, what goals do you have, all that stuff.  That’s not the kind of challenge that I’m talking about.

Set a Gym Challenge

I recently participated in a challenge at my gym.  The objective was simple:  show up, every day, for twenty-five days in a row.

C’est fini.  That’s all.  K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, sweetie.

To my shock, it worked.  I showed up, and I learned something.

Getting TO the Gym Is Half the Battle

Just being there counts.  Even if you go in with your razor and shaving cream, and spend an hour in the shower, it counts.

Why?

Because when we show up, we’re more likely to actually work out, even a little.  For example, one day I just got on the treadmill for an hour and watched an episode of my favorite show on Netflix.  The gym has free wifi, or it’s got television on broadcast on several machines.  You just bring your earphones, and they’ll tell you what channels you can connect with.  (This can sometimes backfire if you’re next to a Fox news fan, but that’s a different problem.)

Five Ideas For a Challenge

1. Set your time frame.  Experts say it takes twenty-one days to develop a new habit, so three weeks is a nice chunk, or do twenty-five days like my gym did.
2. If you’re a member at a health club, go there.  If you’re not, harness the power of the internet and use sites like YouTube to come up with workout plans.
3. Walk.  Even twenty minutes a day is a good starting point.
4. Commit with someone.  Contact a friend and ask them to be your “body buddy.”
5. Talk about it on Facebook or other social media.  There’s nothing like making it public to keep yourself on track.  People will root for you and keep you motivated.

What about you, Dear Reader?  What challenge do you want to set for yourself?