Raise your hand if you feel like 2021 has already been just a *little bit too much*?
I get it – heck, I ended up in a hospital on the last day of 2020! Right now – just like you – I have a TON on my plate, but it’s more important than ever that I do everything I can to fortify my body. Which is why for this year, I’m focusing on those SMALL steps that have BIG gains. Those TINY changes that we can make, that are easy, less stressful, and totally do-able in your busy lives. I’ll be sharing them with you here (or signup for my newsletter at the link in bio so you don’t miss a single one). Because you DON’T have time for goals / activities that don’t work, and the last thing that you need is more stress and guilt about ANOTHER big item on your to-do.
The world may be going crazy, but here, for me and mine (and that includes you, because you’re part of the tribe), we’re going to make 2021 a year of taking care of ourselves – but also a year where taking care of yourself is EASIER.
I’ll share some of my ah-ha(!) hacks, and also tips that are so simple, they’ll seem too good to be true :). I’ll also pull back the curtains for how *I* do these things in my own home.
One for today? One of my favorite ways to make exercise more enjoyable – and one of the ways that I turned myself into a morning exerciser (more on that down the road), was a hack that’s called “Temptation Bundling” (oh it sounds so naughty, doesn’t it?), based on research out of Wharton.
Here’s how it works –
(1) Take an activity that you love (the “Temptation”): maybe it’s watching The Queen’s Gambit, a fave podcast, a great playlist, or reading your favorite trash magazine. Maybe it’s a gossip session with your BFF
(2) Pair that activity with an exercise that you can do at the same time (like treadmill walking, or elliptical or a HIIT)
ONLY let yourself enjoy the temptation, while you’re exercising.
That’s it. Sounds simple, probably too simple. But in research from Wharton, it led people to workout 51% more – without needing ANY other encouragement.
You’ll actually look FORWARD to exercising.
(And in case you’re wondering, my two temptations are a playlist I made on Spotify (LMK if you want the link!), and People magazine. When there’s a new royal scandal, I actually look forward to hitting the treadmill and catching up on it!)
Let me know what “Temptation bundles” you come up with – type it in below!
Xoxo, Dr. D
