Finding a Way

One of the things I admire about entrepreneurs is the relentless drive they have to make their vision a reality. When you start in a garage and become a $25 billon company, it’s a testament to hard work and tenacity. Ultimately, successful entrepreneurs persist through a litany of challenges and find a way to achieve their vision.

The word “can’t” should not be in your dictionary…

While in college, I was on a co-op rotation for a fortune 5 company. Halfway through, I was tasked with what I believed to be a near-impossible assignment. I went to my manager to explain my concerns and he responded with the words above. He implored me to figure what could be done and how. I learned a valuable lesson, not only about how to problem solve, but also about how my mindset affects my ability to find the solution.

What CAN I do?

I often see a similar scenario play out among those who struggle with fitting exercise or healthier food choices into their daily routine. Stop me if you’ve said or even thought some of these before:

“I don’t have time.”
“It’s inconvenient.”
“I don’t enjoy exercise.”
“I travel all the time.”
“I have to take clients out for dinner.”
“I’m tired.”

Do any of these ring a bell? They all seem to be a question of motivation, which, as we know, is not the best barometer for deciding whether or not do something. So, let’s go one by one through these statements and find a way to work around them.

“I don’t have time”

Perhaps the most common of the barriers related to exercise, time is usually cited when exercise is placed up against something else you’d rather be doing. We might also face a time crunch when we’ve procrastinated or left our workout for the end of the day.

In general, my belief is that your workout time should be what works best for you on a consistent basis. Early morning, lunchtime, evening, you decide.

However, I will say that the early morning workout is one of the best ways to alleviate the issues above. Yes, it may mean getting to bed earlier or forgoing the second glass of wine, but you get to check the exercise box before anything gets in the way. As an added bonus, you’ll start your day with a healthy habit that can carry through to other parts of your life like the aforementioned sleep and wine examples.

“It’s inconvenient”

Similar to the barrier above, we are far less inclined to do things that we regard as a hassle. If you’re not currently exercising, start by taking half your lunchbreak to go for a walk. I’ll also submit that your body is one the best exercise tools you have. Use it, whenever and wherever it suits you. The “ANYWHERE” workout is designed specifically for this purpose.

Some consider cooking and preparing food to be a hassle. However, a simple Google search yields a host of ideas for healthy recipes that can be on the table within 30-40 minutes. A personal favorite of mine is to set the oven to broil, line a pan with tin foil and place 6 boneless chicken thighs on the pan. Throw it in the oven and forget about it for 15 minutes. Turn them over, pair with your favorite veggie and you’ve got dinner 10 minutes later. Clean-up is easy too!

“I don’t enjoy exercise.”

I agree! In fact my BS detector goes off whenever I encounter someone who claims to enjoy exercise, even people in my field. However, you can mitigate this issue by mixing some fun activities like hiking or sports into your exercise program. One of my clients loves to ice skate – it’s an outlet for her and guess what? It’s still exercise! Alternatively, start an exercise group with friends or co-workers. Not only will you create some accountability, but you’ll also have a shared experience that pulls you through the tough days.

When it comes to planned exercise, I also recommend choosing the modes you’re more likely to do. For me, that means my workouts are primarily strength training with compound movements and high-intensity conditioning. There’s very little distance running involved. Some people love to distance run and avoid dumbbells like the plague. What’s right for you and your goals?

“I travel all the time”

Workout clothes don’t take up much space in a bag. Hotels have gyms and the room itself has at least a few feet of open space. Pack an exercise band and the “ANYWHERE” Workout. I often hear people lament that their work travel doesn’t allow them enough time to check out the cities they’re in. Sounds like a great opportunity to go for a run and do some exploring.

“I have to take clients out for dinner.”

Similar to the challenge above. Every restaurant in the history of the world can make you grilled chicken and steamed veggies. Not the sexiest choice, I’ll admit, but it’s there as an option. Plan it out and make your decision ahead of time. Just because the company is paying for a 36oz Ribeye with loaded mashed potatoes doesn’t mean you have to order it.

“I’m tired.”

Rest and recovery are an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Go to bed. No looking at Face-a-gram, online shopping or resetting your fantasy line-up for the 50th time. Get up when the alarm goes off; the snooze button is not your friend. Fitting your workout in at the start of your day, rather than the end will actually give you a boost of energy. Additionally, you won’t have it hanging over your head at the end of the day when you’re running on empty. Prepare high quality food choices at each of your meals. Low quality, processed foods can actually harm your energy levels.