An article that appeared in the Crossfit Journal in 2008 was titled The Hard Routine. The term ‘hard routine’ is one used by commandos to describe their mindset, focus and seriousness when at work. This concept was paralleled with the idea that anything worth achieving requires mental toughness. So, this month a number of members at Ignite Health where I go are taking part in a hard routine that has food, training and a number of well-being aspects to it. It’s not a diet, it’s not a challenge in which gym members compete. Each person chooses what their own ‘hard routine’ is and is competing only with themselves (and their psychobabble) to achieve what they have set out to in the month. The Hard Routine article reads a lot like a formula to business success….
“The principles of setting up a hard routine are simple. Following them is too, but it takes total commitment. 1. Recognise that there is a benefit to not getting everything you want. 2. Understand that mental toughness is born of adversity; that it will atrophy if not consistently engaged; and that it carries over to everything you do. 3. Objectively scrutinise one or a handful of things in your life that you think you need but could actually do without. 4. Deny yourself those exact things for a specified period of time. “
It’s that last line that gets me… ‘deny yourself…’ It makes me cringe and get very uncomfortable. I don’t like to deny myself anything. But, what is it that I feel like I can’t do without? Can I REALLY be okay without my 2nd soy flat white each day?
As of Monday I’m in training for the half marathon being held in May. I feel like that is a big challenge and the intense training scares me. Regardless I have decided to do a Hard Routine of my own during February. Here it is: Coffee
- 1 per day (Mon-Fri), 2 on weekends
Training
- 2 x strength training PT sessions
- 1 x Metcon (metabolic conditioning session)
- 2 x runs (whatever is on my 1/2 marathon training program)
Food/drink
- Zone eating plan 90% of the time
- No ‘desserts’ other than fruit
- No alcohol 5 days/2 drinks max on other days
Wellbeing
- No work after 9pm (reading/listening to podcasts after that time is okay! No computer time!)
- No work before 6am (If I wake up earlier read/do something else.)
- 7-8 hours sleep each night. Asleep by 11pm.
Productivity
- Have email free chunks of day – instead of Pavlov’s dogs response to each incoming email!
- Schedule uninterrupted thinking/creative time in each week.
- Weekly review of personal goals and next actions
Why am I doing this? I had to dig deep to be sure that I had a reason that was personal and would compel me to stick with the routine. I already train and eat reasonably well… I don’t want to lose weight and I have lots going on in my life right now. The reason is really to challenge myself to say no to behaviours and things that seem to have have the better of me… the things that I feel I cannot do without. Join my with your own Hard Routine if you want. I’d be happy to support you. Suzi P.S. I mentioned to a few friends that I was going to challenge myself this month with a ‘hard routine’ of my own and (even though I know they love me and care) I had comments such as: “Don’t forget to enjoy yourself…” “Remember it’s important to do what you enjoy.” I know they mean well… but what I like from friends is: a) to share my goals b) to be supported and held accountable (in a loving way) So… go ahead, expect more of me than I do.
