How important is it for a man to spend time exercising? We hear about it all the time it seems. Every day there is a new article or social media post talking about the latest and greatest workout routines or equipment. Regular exercise is one of those things that most men, if they aren’t already, wish that they were doing. But life is hard. We have jobs that require large portions of our time, wives that need us to be present, and children that need dad to throw a ball or play make believe with them. Add on top of that, community, religious, or other obligations and soon the prospect of regular exercise feels like an unattainable wish.
This was the story of my life. I was extremely active as a child. In my youth I regularly participated in organized and unorganized sports. As I grew older the demands of work, school and family began to build up and I found myself doing less and less to stay in shape. And I felt it. For years I tried over and over without success to find a way to exercise regularly. I spent and wasted hundreds of dollars on gym memberships that I rarely if ever used. I made elaborate plans to workout in the basement doing the latest and greatest HIIT workout. I bought super cool running shoes in the hopes that it would somehow motivate me to get out and exercise. But nothing worked.
Almost 2 years ago this changed for me. I can’t quite pinpoint why, but one night while laying in my bed I had the crazy thought to wake up at 5 a.m. the next morning and go to the gym. I thought to myself “if I can’t master the simple task of waking up early and exercising, what can I truly hope to accomplish in my life?” For some reason that thought worked. From that night to today I have been to the gym almost every day, usually 6 mornings a week. Here are 3 benefits and lessons that I have learned from mastering this one discipline-
#1- Consistency is key
I learned early on in my gym-going experience that the quality of the workout actually matters very little. I find the same daily benefits of improved mood, better eating habits, etc simply from making it to the gym. Most days I am tired and lethargic when I get to the gym and most days I snap out of it as I start working out. But there are occasionally those days when I can’t seem to shake it and it feels initially like I accomplished nothing. But I am always glad that I got there and did something. I always feel more confident and better about myself when I have worked out in the morning. It might look differently for you, but find a time that works for you and make it happen. Think less about what you will do and more about just doing something. You won’t regret it.
#2- Get through the first month
The first month at working out is the hardest. Even though I had spent a lot of time in gyms and weightlifting in high school I felt awkward and lost when I started again as a 31 year-old. I felt uncomfortable around everyone else that seemed to know exactly what they were doing and were far stronger and more capable than I was. But I kept going. I watched YouTube videos and read articles until I found a routine that seemed to work. After a few weeks I noticed that I was walking from place to place with a little more confidence. I knew what I was doing and started to feel more comfortable. It was also around this time that I started to notice the first results of my efforts physically. I got a little bit stronger and my muscles seemed a bit bigger. I was hooked from that point on.
#3- It spills over
It wasn’t long after beginning my workout routine consistently that I began to notice other changes in myself. I walked a little taller. I had more confidence. Trust me it wasn’t because I built huge pecs and triceps. There was something about proving to myself that I could do it, however subpar my actual effort at the gym was. I found myself less afraid to speak my mind in social and work situations. I had more confidence in decisions that I made and less fear about what others might think about my opinion. This truly was a turning point for me. I started to think bigger about what I might be capable of in my career and in my life in general. Just like I initially had fears about what my life might be like if I couldn’t master this simple task, now my mind was filled with the possibilities of what I might be able to accomplish if I could make other significant changes.
The World Needs Strong Men
The world needs strong men. Not only that, the world needs YOU to be a strong man. You don’t need to be a body-builder or a competitive weightlifter, but you need to be strong physically, mentally, and spiritually. Working out regularly is perhaps the most impactful thing that you can do to build your abilities in each of those arenas. As you build confidence in your ability to discipline yourself and work out regularly, your capabilities in all aspects of your life will increase. Start today and make a plan. Whether it is pushups in the basement or squats in the gym, lift some heavy stuff and do it consistently. You’ll be a better and happier man if you do.
