My family is officially on day 8 of our OYOH (OSullivan year of health). This month’s focus is a daily walk up our hill, going a little further each day.
So far, whinging is down by at least 20% (or at least, the person whinging each day is different, so that’s something!)
If you’ve been around here a while, you will already know I’m a bit obsessed with the human behaviour side of things when it comes to exercise.
What I’m finding really interesting is how differently we are all approaching the hill walk.
➡️ One boy has been powering through, annoyed that he’s being “forced” to walk. So he stomps up and down just to get it over with.
➡️ One is driven by the need to win. He sprints up the hill just so he can be first home.
➡️ One has decided that, if he’s going to do it, he’s going to make it fun. One day, he made paper planes and flew them down the hill. Another day, he brought a book.
➡️ Cormac? Well let’s be honest, he’s purely doing it because I’m making him. 😂
➡️ And then there’s me. I just want to show them what happens when you keep showing up, even when you don’t feel like it. And I want them to have the experience of something getting easier, simply because they stuck with it.
What the hill walk is reinforcing for me, is that we really are all driven by different things.
In life, in movement, in everything.
We assume motivation has to look a certain way. That we need to be naturally competitive, ultra-disciplined, or love every second of it.
We also assume that our motivation stays the same for ever.
But the key is figuring out what works for YOU. In this season.
What makes you show up, even when you don’t feel like it?
What makes movement work for you, instead of feeling like a chore?
Keep trying new things until you find it.
And then (and this is the really hard part) -> repeat it and don’t give up, even when it gets boring.
It’s that simple. And it’s that hard.
Have you already worked out what motivates you? Hit reply and let me know! I’d love to hear.