Small Steps

Today I did my second 5k (this year).  Last year I did the same 5k as my first 5k ever.  I'm happy to report that I was 5 minutes faster this year (although fast is a relative term!).  But I'm more happy to report that since I posted my blog about peer pressure about 2 months ago, I have made a significant change in my life and am maintaining it. 

Someone  asked me what I was doing to stay motivated, so I thought I would write a nice positive post on what is making me successful this time when I have failed so many times in the past.  First before I list out what specifically is working for me, I have to point out that I have only made one change.  I have been working out regularly.  I think this is important because at times in the past I have tried to make several changes at once (eat right, lose weight, work out, dress better, etc).  By doing it that way, everytime I failed in one area, it felt like a failure in the whole self-improvement effort and I gave up.  So my new plan is to attack all of those things in increments.  Changing one small thing at a time and working at it until it becomes a habit and I can make another change.  

For those who watch my Facebook page, you may have wondered what posting the pictures of my shoes last week was all about.  That was a second change, a very small one, being implemented now that I feel the exercise one is settling into permanence.  Since Michaela died, mornings have been difficult for me and I find myself just throwing on any old thing to go to work.  Mostly whatever went with flip flops.  So last week I started pulling my nicer shoes out of the closet and forcing myself to wear an outfit that looked good with them.  I'm thinking SMALL!  Small changes are easier to tackle than big ones!

So, to answer the question of why I am able to stay motivated this time, here are my thoughts:  Each of these sentences starts with the words "I set my self up for success by...."
1.  not taking on too much at once.
2.  choosing a workout schedule that is easy for me to commit to.
3.  choosing workouts that aren't dependent upon anyone else.
4.   choosing a workout that I enjoy and provides immediate feedback (yoga).
5.  choosing a workout that is on a set schedule and convenient to my house.
6.   avoiding the pitfalls I was already aware of (I won't get up in the morning to work out, if I get comfortable in the house in the evening I won't work out)
7.  setting realistic goals for myself and not worrying about how well (or fast) anyone else is going.
8.  having specific goals (i.e. the date of the 5k)
9.  accepting that every single day I have to make the choice to be successful at this; it isn't a one time thing.
10.  by celebrating every success, even through a simple facebook post that solidifies my accomplishment as fact (even if it is a picture of my shoes!).

Of course there are a lot of other factors as well:  A supportive husband, supportive friends, cooler weather.  The ones I listed are the ones I think contributed to my previous failures and my current success.  Notice that they are all things that are under my control and no one elses.  I am applying my new attitude about choosing to all of the parts of my life.  I can choose to be happy.  I can choose to workout.  I can choose to surround myself with positive people.  And today I chose not to stop running.  I didn't make the choice when my legs were tired....I made it before the race began.  I had to remind myself and continuously reinforce the choice the more tired I got, but I made it 5k without walking a single step.

I can't control my friends, my husband, the weather, or even my workload at work sometimes; but I can control my own life...one small thing at a time.

PS...I just started reading a book called The Power of Small by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval.  I think I am going to like it.  I'll let you know.