Engaged: Awaken The Warrior Within.
Engaged
This is the feeling of engagement. The participation of activity. To combat inaction. And it’s the 3rd action and the “E” in my G.R.E.A.T. principle towards your self-improvement. From moving from just being "good" to being "Great".
To fight lethargy, fatigue, or stiffness, we need to engage our bodies to move better, feel better, and perform better, and the best way to do this is by simply elevating our heart rate. The earlier in the day you do this, the better.
This can be accomplished in many different ways with common ones being:
- Walking/Running - Strength Training - Stretching - Yoga/Pilates - Breathwork - Biking - Hiking - Martial Arts The Scottish have a phrase that I feel best describes the need to engage in activity: "Mon Then". "Mon Then" is slang for "c'mon then" as if it is an invitation to combat. To purposely choose to go into battle. And the better we get at making the choice to battle the lack of locomotion and get our heart rates elevated, the more likely we will stay consistent with our exercise and nutritional habits. You'll also sleep better and experience less stress as your circadian rhythm stays in check, meaning your routines and habits will cost you less energy and you can concentrate more on your rest and recovery.
Focus on doing 1 of these activities consistently first and foremost, then slowly add progress in a way that is challenging but doable. The smaller the progress the less likely the disruption in building the habit and changing your behavior.
As far as the length of engagement, it will truly depend on your mindset at the start, but the goal is to have it blocked off on your calendar for a minimum of 30 minutes/day. This is your self-care time and asking for a half-hour to prioritize your health will improve your ability to help others. But if that sounds overwhelming or you feel you can't make that commitment, ask yourself this question:
“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐲?”
Then do that activity. You are simply about checking the box, not hitting a home run every time.
Professional baseball player Ted Williams was once quoted saying “Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer.” Treat your workouts the same way- you won’t have the greatest workout every time you exercise. Some days you will, some days you won’t. What’s important is you eliminate the perfectionism in you and allow yourself the freedom to enjoy the process.
To enjoy getting your heart rate elevated by your choosing.
If you sweat, you have found success. Plain and simple.
Once you build a solid foundation, the sky's the limit. You’ll find a rhythm and flow that works for you and will be more likely to maintain or progress the habit if you make it easy as possible to complete.
Start slow because you don’t sprint a marathon. If you are interested, there are 3 ways you can get in touch or work with me so we can help you engage your body to be the best it can be and take on the day:
1. Work with me 1-on-1.
If you have some issues and you want my direct input and guidance, just reply to this "Hey Coach" and tell me what you're struggling with or by scheduling a Strategy Session with me below. It's that simple.
2. Join my FREE Facebook group.
We all need support. So why not jump into a motivated community of like-minded fathers to build CONSISTENCY with the habits that you want to instill to reach your goals, led by Yours Truly? This isn't for everyone- To qualify you must: 1. Be a Dad
2. Share with me what your goals are 3. Agree to be disciplined for the next 14 days
4. Tell me your best "Dad Joke" If I feel like it's a good fit for you, you'll be accepted to the Facebook Group "The Disciplined Dad Experiment" where you can participate in my brand new 14-day challenge to get a head start in chasing your goals. You won't run the race alone- we will run it together and support each other along the way.
I'll be there every day to give you everything you need to succeed - Meal plans, Tips, Motivation, Accountability, and Support. Iron sharpens Iron so as one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). Let's stop trying to figure out and fix everything on our own- Let's win together.
If you are interested in being a part of The Disciplined Dad Experiment, reply to this with the word "Discipline" and I'll fill you in on the details and schedule your call.
3. Local to Baltimore? Then reach out! It's pretty simple: shoot me an email at ryancollins@dadswholift.com saying where about you are located and I'll reach back out and tell you the next steps.
Many people wish they started sooner. Almost nobody wished they started later. Book your appointment now so you can start becoming the change you want to be. For my fellow Fathers who dare to get better, Coach Ryan Collins
