Ever feel like life is chaotic and out of control? Here’s how to rig the game (and your health) in your favor!
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It is becoming increasingly more difficult to stick to the goals we set for ourselves. To a large degree, it has to do with all the distractions that life throws at us, like the amount of information we are processing daily and the convenience of everything: fast food, fast fixes, fast excuses.
Is it any wonder that we fail in such a chaotic world?
To succeed, I propose you rig the game of life in your favor.
There will always be some things you cannot control. For now, we won’t worry about those things. Instead, let’s focus on what we CAN control and use to our advantage to train harder, eat better, and function more productively.
The Two Important Things in Your Control
Your Environment
Do you think supermarkets are laid out randomly?
Nope.
They are designed for conversion.
The lesson to learn here is that your environment dictates your actions. So, if we are so largely influenced by our environment, we have two choices – fight against it or use it to our advantage.
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From shopping carts, to product placement, to that final gauntlet of sweets you have to face before reaching the till, it is all a clever design to get you to part with more of your beloved money.
The lesson to learn here is that your environment dictates your actions.
So, if we are so largely influenced by our environment, we have two choices – fight against it or use it to our advantage.
Your home and work environment is space that you largely have control over. You decide what you bring in to your environment and what you take out. It is yours to structure in a way that can help you achieve your goals. It can become an ally instead of a constant temptress.
Your Attitude
Some people believe that life happens to them. Others happen to life.
Your mindset will determine how focused and dedicated you will be. Without willpower and self-control you are likely to fail.
If you commit to change, know that it won’t be easy. That is kind of the whole point of this article—to help you along by rigging the game so that it becomes easier.
But having said that, this is no quick fix. There will always be situations that are not within your control. At those times, you will need a degree of mental toughness.
Rig the Game: Fitness
Partner Up
It is always more difficult to let others down than to let yourself down.
Sticking to a training routine can be hard during the best of times. When someone else is waiting for you, it becomes more of a priority. Since someone has taken the time to train with you, are you really going to waste their effort by not showing up?
Inner dialogue will easily pardon you for that workout you are about to skip—your training partner won’t. When that little voice is quick to whisper that you have done enough, your training partner will push you further.
Choose Something You Love
Training should not be something you force yourself to do. Yes, it is supposed to be hard. If it does not challenge you, it does not change you. But it should be something you enjoy.
Do not leave your workout to chance. You are busy, and your day is unforgiving.
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There are countless ways to stay fit, strong, and healthy. If you love lifting weights, that’s great. If you are more of a runner, good for you. Prefer to go swim and do some yoga? Go for it.
If you look forward to your workout, you are more likely to stick to it.
Schedule It
Do not leave your workout to chance. You are busy, and your day is unforgiving.
The best thing is to have a set time to train every day. If you are very busy, then the best time might be before your day starts. It is important to make it a part of your morning routine.
Schedule it in, and treat it with the respect that any other meeting demands.
Once your workout becomes a part of your daily routine, you win. It needs to be as ingrained in your life as breathing. It becomes a natural part of the flow of your day—the ultimate rig.
Have Some Equipment at Home
On some days, life will inevitable get in the way.
Be prepared.
Have some basic equipment at home that can assist you with a decent workout. A great place to start would be:
Kettlebell – A very versatile tool.
Skipping rope – Running is the cheaper option.
Foam roller – Maintaining your body is as important as building it.
Your body – Bodyweight training can be quite challenging.
Do not buy equipment and stash it in a cupboard. Keep it somewhere you can see it. Remember, your environment needs to reflect your goals.
Rig the Game: Diet
Clean Your Kitchen
To rig the game of eating for health, fat loss, or muscle gain, start by cleaning your kitchen.
You are most likely to break your good eating habits when you become bored, hungry, or have a dip in your willpower. But if you remove all the processed junk and sugar laden foods, then you remove temptation, and there will be no bad food left in your kitchen to consume.
Your only option would be to get in your car and drive to the supermarket to buy something sweet and filled with regret.
But we are planning for that too…
Stock Your Kitchen
By the time you are done removing bad foods from your pantry, it might look a little sad.
This might be the most important rig when it comes to your diet.
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The fun part is restocking it. This time, make sure that you only buy foods that will contribute towards your goals.
Buy foods you enjoy and foods that can act as snacks.
Prepare
This might be the most important rig when it comes to your diet.
The easiest way to fail horribly in your diet is when you’re out on the road, hungry, and stuck without any healthy options.
That’s why it is important to prepare your kitchen and your meals.
When you cook at night, take into account that you will at least need lunch for the next day. So, make enough to take some with you.
Buy a shaker that will allow you to take your protein shakes on the road with you. Buy plenty of Tupperware containers, and make some foods such as rice and mince in bulk so you can quickly grab it from the fridge when you might need it.
Rig the Game: Productivity
Apps to Help Prevent Distraction
To get things done, you need focused consistency.
The problem is that you do not want to miss out on the latest happenings in the world of social media.
The solution: Apps like Pomodoro Timer.
This timer aims to help you focus for 20 minutes at a time. Sit down, start the timer, and for the allotted time do nothing else other than one task.
The world demands a lot from you. Responsibilities are screaming your name from all avenues of life. Your to-do list is never ending. You have to prioritize what is important.
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When the time is done, get up and take a break. One of the best things about the timer is that it reminds you to go stretch and do something else.
This structure is good for your body, mind, and productivity.
Overkill – Once activated, this app will stop you from going to certain specified websites. You can block all your favorite time wasters such as Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit.
Lock In
My personal favorite productivity rig is on my head right now as I type this.
I invested in a solid pair of Bose headphones a long time ago. They are always next to my Mac, ready to lock me out of a distracting world. Whenever I want to be productive, I load my favorite “lock in” playlist from Rdio, start my Pomodoro timer, and get cracking.
Your Top Three
The world demands a lot from you. Responsibilities are screaming your name from all avenues of life. Your to-do list is never ending.
Apart from severely draining your willpower, these bottomless lists can demotivate you to do anything. You have to prioritize what is important.
How?
Jump on your phone right now and set a reminder that pops you a message every morning at 7 a.m. with the question, “What are the three most important things you need to do today?”
This simple rig is extremely effective.
Some days, this is an extremely hard task to complete. Everything seems important. Ultimately, you will find that some things will make a big impact, whereas others are merely just time fillers: things that could be given to others while you focus on what can make a bigger impact in your life.
Whatever You Do, Be Prepared
I am not one of those people that have countless dramatic stories to tell about the lessons learned from my parents. The one thing I can tell you is that from a young age my dad always prompted me to think ahead. It is important to be aware of the impact your decisions will make in the future—the impact on you and those around you.
Take responsibility for your life and the decisions you make. Be proactive.
Take responsibility for your life and the decisions you make. Be proactive. The future is yours to control.
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Rig your environment by preempting decisions you will have to make later.
At some point, you will need to eat. Help your future self make a better decision by stocking your freezer with natural foods.
You know that you have to train. In fact, you want to train… but you are busy. Preempt that excuse by scheduling a specific time with a training partner. Book it out in your diary.
Success comes from hard work. You want to be successful. But you also want to watch funny cat videos on Youtube. Preempt the temptation and work offline, or grab an app that helps you block those URLS.
The future is yours to control.
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Originally published at Better Man. Reprinted with permission.
Photo: Sebastien Wiertz/Flickr
Hello,
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