In these times, it is more important than ever to take care of ourselves and our body and mind. The brain needs physical exercise. Having friends, being with other people strengthen us. Depression often occurs when people isolate themselves. You might have the impression that people are working out more now because you see people moving and running outside but I just wonder, isn’t that just the same people who always worked out who just work out more now? Most people know that moving the body is good for you and when you see to the benefits of being in good shape, the list is long. How to get out of your comfort zone?

Why do you want to work out? As with most things in life, you will get the most out of it if you:

• Believe in your self
• Have friends who believe in you
• Get knowledge; read about the thing you want to do and let other people inspire you

Self-esteem – find your intention

If you need a change and feel that you “should” work out, the first step is to drop all expectations and “ghosts” and voices from the past. The answer to “why” should not be “should” but instead, “I want this because…” No one is more entitled than anyone to feel good about one self. Anyone can join the gym, the fitness class, the running session, etcetera. Working out can be fun; it should not be a yoke that you just want to get over with. In order to find the fun, you need to find a routine and give it a fair chance. It takes weeks, maybe months of continuity to adapt body and mind to the new routine. Remember, this is your thing; it’s your body and your physical and mental health so most important of all: find your reason, your core values. What motivates you? Write down the benefits of getting in good shape.

No man is an island

Friends are crucial; we are not intended to be alone, I believe. Maybe you think that you can do this on your own. Maybe you can but the chance of succeeding is so much bigger if you allow other people in your life. Beware, of course; there are those who will try to get you out of balance; people who suck energy instead of giving energy. Get rid of them; you deserve better! Real friends will support you no matter what. Listen to those who gives you constructive advice. If you lack motivation to do your sport, find someone who will join you or join a community. Be together with other people; have fun!

Book recommendation: North by Scott Jurek

A great inspiration to me is to read about other people who accomplish great physical challenges. When I read about someone who shows perseverance in reaching a goal, I never think “I cannot do that” (most often, I don’t even have the intension) but instead: “If he/she can do that, then I can do so much more than I think”. It encourages me to run that extra mile or run several days in a row. The body can endure so much more than we think and the limitations are most often in our heads.

North is written by Scott and his wife Jenny which gives you the perspective from two sides of his challenge. Scott Jurek is an ultrarunner who has run and won many ultraraces and his challenge in this book is the Appalachian Trail – a 2 200 miles (3 500 km) trail in the US. We follow him on his journey together with the people around him. His wife Jenny takes care of the logistics, she drives the car and meet up with him on the trail. It’s not only a physical challenge but also (maybe mostly) a psychological test.

When it comes to physical exercise, whether it’s a new routine or an old one, Scott Jurek shows us that’s it’s all in your head. When you believe in yourself and when other people believe in you – he had many people around him that encouraged him – then the physical challenge becomes an obstacle that you can handle. You don’t have to be a runner to read this book; it shows us so much about stamina that is useful in all kinds of challenges in life. Highly recommended!

Running is not a lonely sport; on the contrary, but it is a sport where you can choose to be on your own or with others. I often run alone but I also run with friends and when I do the tough interval or hill training, my fellow runners give me energy. Often, I would not have had the mental strength to succeed well on my own.

Since I am fascinated with the occurrence of pain and how the brain often tricks us, I would like to share some quotations from Scott:

“Pain is a biological fact […] we do have some control over how much one fact or another will consume our thoughts and attention”.

“…when affection becomes predicable and routine, it loses its sharpness. And in the case of pain, perhaps the one we know hurts less than the one we fear”.

I read about ultra running and other extreme challenges even though I do actually not intend to run an ultra marathon (not yet, anyway). We can always learn something from people who are doing extreme things; their stamina, their mental strength can motivate us. It motivates me.

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