For almost 13 years, the anchor of my morning routine has been my “Fitness First” ritual. My workout is the first item on my agenda every day.
Read: 3 Lessons I’ve Learned From 11 Years of Daily Workouts
The core people in my life know that this is how I operate. And yet, when I hit a season where I’m struggling under the weight of demands and wondering how I’m going to get everything done, inevitably someone in my life will suggest I skip my workout.
Read: The Secret to Sustaining Daily Workouts
Suggest is actually the wrong word.
It usually comes across more like a judgment framed as advice:
If you’re really so busy, maybe you should skip the gym.
The implicit judgment here is that my workout consumes time and energy that would otherwise be used to meet another pressing demand that’s on my plate.
This judgment reflects the common belief that many people have about time and energy: as assets that are spent in one place at the expense of another.
When people suggest I skip a workout to focus on other work, it’s because they believe that time and energy invested in a workout takes away from time and energy available for other tasks.
But that’s not how the energy system works. This is not a zero-sum game.
Some activities that appear to consume time and energy actually give you more time and energy in return.
Starting my day with a workout is like going to the ATM before going on a shopping spree. The “workout ATM” doesn’t only give me time and energy; it gives me a suite of resources I need to sustain optimal performance through the rest of the day.
A good workout boosts my energy, mood, and confidence; it sharpens my focus and helps me hone my attention.
When these are dialed in, I am more effective and efficient for the rest of my day. I can sustain focus longer, I don’t fatigue as easily, and I feel better about myself as I go about my work.
Read: Why An Effective Workout is Essential for ADHD Peak Performance
Without an effective workout, I’m often in physical pain. I’m also irritable, resentful, more easily distracted, and struggle to sustain attention.
Fitness First has been the anchor of my morning routine for almost 13 years because it is the spark that lights the fire of my day.
The more demands I need to meet in a day, the more essential it is to light the fire that will propel me through.
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