Wisdom of Nike... or Why You Should Just Do It!

Here's an ancient Chinese secret to help you launch into your new year self-improvement efforts...

Drumroll, please..... It's this (one single word): Practice. Allow that to sink in. "What do you mean?" You ask? "Practice what?" you want to know. "Is that really an ancient Chinese secret?" Here's the simple answer: practice everything you want to do better. Want to eat more vegetables? Practice adding more veggies to each meal. Want to be more consistent with exercise? Practice scheduling extra workout time into each week. Want to make progress with your yoga asanas? Practice more yoga. (There's a reason why doing yoga consistently is called a practice). Want to be an eloquent writer? Practice writing every day. Want to have a better relationship with your spouse? Practice being more connected. You get the point. The thing is, each new year, we assess where we are in life, and we entertain the idea of making ourselves better in some way. We think about it, we may even tell people about our plans or write it down in a journal. But, then, we typically fizzle. I propose we just start doing. They say, "Practice makes perfect." While nothing's perfect and I'm not a proponent of holding yourself to the standard of perfection (that can actually be harmful to your self-esteem and your spirit), I am a fan of taking one single step...and then another...and another...and another... My dad used to repeat a saying he had heard long ago regarding this concept: "Instead of thinking your way into a new way of acting, you need to act yourself into a new way of thinking." So, practice! Do! Act! Take that baby step! You don't have to be perfect--you're just practicing. So for that last question...Google says the following:

Wise people from all cultures acknowledge and embrace this concept. It's time we get back to basics and just do. Have trouble consistently sticking to a new habit? Here are three strategies to help you get your new skill ingrained:

1) Schedule practice time on your calendar. Sometimes, we fall to the bottom of our to-do lists. We put ourselves last. Get in the habit of putting your self-care in the queue. You'll even be a better support for others if you do.

2) Link your new habit to something you already do consistently. Do you drink coffee every morning? Try doing your mobility work over coffee. Do you sit at your desk each day? Get to your desk 5 minutes earlier and write in your gratitude journal. I've even heard that some people do squats as they brush their teeth! Anything that works for you is a winner.

3) Get stubborn! If you fall off, don't throw in the towel, simply jump back in. It doesn't even matter how many times you jump back in. Just keep coming back to it. Tweak it, change the timing, make it easier for you to do. Just do it.

Happy practicing the things you want to improve or master in 2023! Me? I'll be doing more mobility work, more kettlebell exercises and more healthy home cooking, to name a few. Share in the comments what you'll be practicing this year and how it's going for you.