Why Do People Hate Exercise?
There are 3 things you can’t avoid in life: death, taxes and change. But somewhere along this long and winding road there are things we need to do consistently and one of them is exercise.
So, my question is why do I hate exercise so much? but have miraculously managed to maintain the habit of doing it over the years. This goes against the universal wisdom that we do what we love, so how am I able to do something which I hate?
Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash
The fact of the matter is that deep down I really do hate exercise, however I do love how it makes me feel. Which is enough motivation to get my lazy ass into a gym for a tough work out.
My love and hate relationship with exercise has lasted many years. Even though I describe it as being complicated I do understand that like a wild horse I've managed to tame it into a manageable servant, who now and then shows glimpses of unruly behaviour.
People often compliment me on my discipline towards exercise and are quick to assume that I really enjoy it. My secret to exercise is from an analogy I got from Warren Buffet.
"Imagine a genie appeared to you and said I'm going to give you the car of your choice. It'll be here tomorrow morning with a big bow tied on it. Brand-new. And it's all yours. But there's only one catch. This is the only car you're ever going to get in your life. So it's got to last a lifetime.”
This is a very simple but powerful analogy, our mind and body are tools we use to engage with the world. They determine the quality of our life and if we don’t take the time to care for them, it might be too late to fix the unrepairable damage. One of the best ways to maintain a healthy body and mind is exercise.
The same way you take your car in for service every year or take it to a repair shop when there is a crack on your windscreen. That is how we should treat our bodies.
History is a good place to start by looking closely at the habits of our wise ancestors. Hunting for food was a necessity which determined whether you'd witness another sunrise or to simply put it to never see the sun shine again.
Hunting was a complex survival skill which required a sharp mind and and a robust body which could withstand the harsh environment.
Photo by Bob Brewer on Unsplash
The biggest shift from that world to ours is that our hunting is now done with plastic cards, which we use in a concrete jungle and the animals we hunt are neatly packed into boxes.
All that is required of us is to swipe the card, get into our metal boxes and drive to a concrete building which we call home. We then sit and stare at a strange box for hours which flashes images of things we spend our whole lives desperately scurrying to acquire even at the cost of our health.
The world tries to tell us that our ancestors were strange, primitive creatures. But if you ask me, I'd say they seemed far more rational and sane. The point I'm trying to make is that our daily activities and environment don't support the sufficient rigor our body requires.
The concept of going to the gym is strange, thats why so many people struggle to keep going. It's unnatural and goes against our primal instincts, it requires the dedication of a motivated individual with clear goals to overcome the uncouth psychology of going to the gym.
The secret to overcoming this is by playing sports. This is because Sports simulate primitive activities that our ancestors engaged in such as hunting or tribal wars. The participation in competitive sports is deeply immersive and hours can drift by while working most of your body parts without even realising it.
Photo by Lars Bo Nielsen on Unsplash
I look at exercise like happiness, it's a by product of doing difficult things we don't always enjoy doing. But eventually give us a great amount of satisfaction when accomplished. The actual process of exercise is a pain in the ass (no pun intended) But that blissful moment of clarity, lucidity and boundless energy after a hard workout is what you should be chasing.
It's how it makes us feel, and how we feel affects our relationships with people in our daily life. When I say exercise I don't mean an Arnold Schwarzenegger workout regimen, but even a walk around your block goes a long way.
The biggest problem I have with exercise is that if I break my regular routine, it totally disrupts my willpower to continue exercising. Exercising alone can also be a problem because you have no accountability or someone to keep you in check.
Joining CrossFit was the best decision I made, not only did it create an accountability mechanism, but it has also made exercise fun. Humans are social creatures we enjoy doing things in groups, it’s wired deep into our DNA.
Photo by Luis Vidal on Unsplash
CrossFit has combined all of these positive motivations and combined it with tough physical activity which pushes your body to the limits.
Our psychology towards exercise has been screwed up by television, beauty magazines and celebrity product endorsements. Changing your psychology from how you look to how you feel will eliminate that unnecessary pressure you put on yourself.
So stop thinking about the top of the mountain and enjoy the hike up, the results will come in their own time. Like anything in life, it's a cluster of behaviours which ultimately influence a result.
So if your fridge looks like a scene from "The Nutty Professor" you cannot expect amazing results. Your diet is just as important as exercising, because it's a symbiotic relationship.
Overall the human capacity to succeed is determined by that muscle called, "Willpower" and if neglected it spills over into other parts of our lives.
Exercise makes me feel good, and when I feel good, I do good things. So while pushing myself to exercise or avoiding bad food can feel like a momentous task. I try to always remember the sobering words of Oscar Wilde, "I can resist everything, except temptation."
