Choose the Path Less Comfortable

We’ve talked before about the problem with comfort. We weren’t designed to be comfortable all the time. 

The human body and brain do great things when confronted with a little challenge, and yet, we have more opportunities to add comfort and ease to our lives with every new day.

That’s why we actively choose to AVOID the more comfortable choice whenever we can. 

For example:

• When we go on walks, one of us pushes the stroller (31lbs of toddler + 14lbs of stroller), while the other walks with a weighted backpack (full Yeti water bottle, 10lb sandbell and a few other items inside a backpack) and the dogs (who add 78lbs of resistance). We take turns pushing the stroller up the rather steep hills on our route!

• When we mow the lawn, we often avoid using the self-propel feature on the lawn mower. This requires more physical effort to push the mower up the slope of the yard.

• We often stand while we work or chat with others or on the phone.

• We try to carry our grocery bags from the store to the car, instead of using the cart.

• When we learned of the delivery fee to tote home landscaping rocks (each weighing 100-180lbs), we decided we could do it ourselves. Not only did we save money, we got a free workout in! It was HARD work getting the rocks out of the vehicle and transported to their new resting places, but we did it (safely) and we’ve done it two more times since (and with heavier rocks)!

• We started a Ruck Club in Omaha, so that we can take more challenging walks and incorporate a social aspect with others in our community.

We can do hard things. 

YOU can do hard things. 

In fact, your body and brain CRAVE challenge regularly! 

We feel good and proud after accomplishing something. Our brains are wired to reward us for effort.

You can handle way more challenge and effort than you think.

Curious how you can add a little more physical effort to your day without much added time?

1. Consider the activities you already do in a typical day or week. Think about ways you could add challenge or intensity to one of those activities. 
   1. Is it an activity that you normally do while sitting, and could do standing or walking around, instead? 
   2. If you like to watch TV for a portion of the day, could you do a few sets of exercises during the commercials, or watch TV while using a stationary bike or walking on the treadmill?
2. Then, take action by increasing the intensity or challenge level of one activity.
3. As you’re doing the activity, check your mindset. Instead of begrudgingly carrying your grocery bags to the car, or a bag of mulch to your backyard, applaud yourself for working your muscles! You’re supplying your body the effort it needs to grow stronger and continue allowing you to do everyday activities!

An easy place to start is by rucking around the house! You might feel silly carrying a weighted backpack around while cleaning or watering your plants, but it’s a simple way to add physical effort, without taking more time. Not only are you strengthening your muscles, studies have shown that this type of activity can even build bone mass over time.

If you open your mind up to all the ways you could be adding effort into your day, it starts to snowball.

You begin to think creatively about every activity you do! You start choosing the path less comfortable, in return for a stronger, healthier body and mind. These choices spread into other areas of life, like what you decide to eat or things you choose to fill your time with.

That’s because we tend to say this to ourselves when we accomplish something cool:

If I can do that, what else can I do?!

Pretty soon, your new normal includes using your body so much more. You begin viewing tasks and problems differently and with more creativity. Because you are stronger in body and in mind, you feel empowered to do tasks or jobs you would never have taken on or considered. Pushing beyond your comfort zone, opens the door for you to achieve more than you ever thought possible!

We want this for you. Do you want this for yourself?

An open mindset can expand your whole outlook on life, all because you stepped outside your comfort zone. When you know you can do hard things, you don’t limit yourself. Obstacles become opportunities for solutions – in all areas of your life.

Get started today, and choose the path less comfortable.

Active-ists for your health,

Irene & Brianna