Challenges. I recently proposed a fun challenge to my running group for the month of July.

 

100 squats a day.

 

Simple.

 

We took on this challenge, and the idea was to type “done” when completed. A few took on the challenge.

 

31 days later, 3100 squats later, I feel much better for having undertaken it. Most people would look at the task, and say “ that is impossible, or that is ridiculous, or I cant do that”.

 

Here is how I tackled it. On some days I would do 20 squats x 5 throughout the day. Or 10 squats x 10. Get out of bed do 10 squats, Goto the bathroom in the morning then do 10 squats, goto the kitchen do 10 squats etc. Easily divisible. At work, in between patient visits, do 10 squats in the doc room. Before I knew it, it was done.

 

I also added weights if I did them in the morning. 20 warm up air squats then 20 dumbbell squats, 20 front squats with bar, 20 overhead squats with bar, 20 back squats with bar. I kept finding new ways to vary the squats. Sometimes Bulgarian squats were added. Slowing them down helped build more muscle tension and strength. Keeping perfect form for every 100 squats in itself is an arduous task, but totally doable.

 

I quickly realized that most challenges or tasks look too big for the brain to handle. Till we break them down into their individual components and tackle them.

 

The mind blocks us from attempting anything hard because it chooses to keep us safe, and risk free. Yet life is not about living in our comfort zone. Growth only occurs when we try something hard, risky, difficult and challenging. That is when we step out of our comfort zone.

 

Self accountability is a key component, hence these little monthly group challenges that we do are so helpful, as we can support each other. It takes discipline and self motivation to get started and staying the course well sometimes that just takes grit.

 

The new challenge for August is 50 pushups, 50 squats, 50 lunges, 50 second plank, 50 second wall sit. Wanna come play? You may find significant gains by the time August ends, including more flexibility, strength, mobility. But maybe you will just find a renewed sense of self, confidence and realization that you too can do hard things.

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I love you