This morning, I woke up with enough time to exercise.
But I really didn’t feel like it.
As I put my shoes on, I wanted to open up my phone and just scroll social media.
And after years of exercising, you’d think it would be easier.
Which brings us to the “Hard Health Truth” for today.
It will always takes effort.
Sure, some days are fun and easy. And sure, those endorphins are awesome.
But health always requires effort.
Like a good relationship or running a business, you can’t just set and forget it— all good things need maintenance.
Can you accept that?
Easy is an Illusion
You hear a lot of fitness influencers talk about making it effortless.
They offer tips like:
- “Lay out your workout clothes the night before.”
- “Prepare healthy meals in advance.”
- “Set health-related task reminders on your phone.”
- “Create a space in your home for exercise.”
I am guilty of giving these tips too.
And they are good tips. But it one side of your health project.
(I also think it’s the “feel good” side)
The other side of it? It was always take effort to work on your health.
Health is important, that’s why it’s challenging.
I like to tell my clients that you’re health is always on the move.
It could be improving or it could be declining. That process can be happening quickly or slowly.
And one thing I know is that it’s never static.
That means, if you’re not doing anything for your health at all. (No movement, no nutrition, no sleep)— then you’re on the decline. It’s not going to stay still.
And it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been working on health. Exercising and being healthy is a challenge.
What is the relationship between ease and effort?
Here’s my framework for this:
I believe there are two things you need to work on.
1) External Health Routines
and
2) Internal Health Mindset
External Health Routines are common tips
I don’t want you to think these are useless. Like I said above, they’re good tips, and if you make it easy for yourself, you are in fact more likely to exercise.
So advice like “Lay out your workout clothes the night before,” and “Prepare healthy meals for the week,” are good and they really do work.
But they’re not magic.
So by all means use your favorite routine hacks. But don’t forget the second half of your health project.
Interally: Be ready to make an effort for health.
While you work to make things easier, also accept that maintaining your health will always require effort.
This acceptance is liberating because:
- It removes the false expectation that it should be easy.
- It helps you prepare mentally for the work.
- It allows you to take pride in your efforts, regardless of the outcome.
If it’s challenging, that’s a feature, not a bug. It should be hard and it should take effort.
Because you’re doing something valuable.
Remember:
- Make it easy to take action
AND
- Accept that it will always be challenging