When you speak to people who want to get into shape, it’s often clear to see that their plans are doomed right from the off-set. How many times has someone told you that they’re going to start working on getting a six pack or building their guns and then reeled off a huge training program to you? Normally it involves working out five days a week for an hour or more at a time after cycling to the gym and changing.
The question you should be asking them at this point is: ‘where are you going to find the time’? And more importantly: ‘where are you going to find the energy’? The same goes for people who want to set up a side business or who plan to write the next great novel. These people will tell you all the things they’re going to do to make it happen but you know what they don’t tell you? All the things that they’re going to not do.
Making Space
In other words, if you’re planning on committing to some huge new project whether that’s a plan to get into shape or even a new relationship, then you need to cut something out in order to make room.
The fact of the matter is that however much you’re accomplishing on a weekly basis, that is probably the maximum amount you’re capable of accomplishing without running out of time or energy. If it wasn’t, then you would probably be doing more.
If you then plan to add 5 hours of training plus 3 hours of travel time to your working week – that’s a full 8 hour working day – then you’re kidding yourself unless you can cut something else out of your routine.
And this is also important for another reason too: because it shows that you are willing to give priority to this new endeavor and to take it seriously enough to actually start making changes in your life. If you’re not willing to go to the pub one time less a month… then are you really serious about your ambitions or are you just telling yourself you are?
Examples
If that has convinced you that you need to change your priorities to really get what you want, then the next question you should be asking is what you can cut out. Here are some ideas:
- A bad relationship
- A club
- Social commitments
- A job
- Education
- Cleaning (get a maid)