Get Going

I was going to call this blog “Just Do It”, but that slogan is already taken. Regardless, the message remains the same. So start. What you waiting for? Like seriously, whatever you are putting off or procrastinating over, get over thinking about it and do it already.

The reason I started ‘Fitness in Your 30s’ was to help maintain my motivation, enthusiasm, and love for exercising regardless of age. One celebrity who I believe encapsulates this idea would be Tom Cruise. Even in his 50s, the actor is still starring in blockbusters and performing in his own stunts.

Whilst filming his latest movie, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, the sixth instalment of the film series, Cruise broke his ankle whilst performing his own stunts. Performing his own stunts has become a trademark for Cruise and that is what his fans love about him. It brings a sense of authenticity about the films and the man himself. Cruise comes across as energetic and enthusiastic and that is something you cannot fake.

“I am passionate about learning; I am passionate about life” Tom Cruise.

Another quote that I love which is attributed to Cruise is that “Nothing ends nicely, that’s why it ends”. In fact, the same can be said for the beginning. Starting out any new venture or even a simple task can be seem difficult. That initial step to take action is straightforward, yet, it is often the hardest.

How do we overcome this hesitation? In her famous Ted Talk, motivational speaker, Mel Robbins claims we only have 5 seconds to react to an impulse to do something. She calls this the “5 second Rule”. From the moment, you have the idea to do something; you only have 5 seconds to take action otherwise it is gone. In fact, a goldfish has a longer attention span than a human does!

Too many choices has an adverse effect on the brain and you will end up choosing nothing. So make a decision to act on your impulse, and do it quickly. Whether it is getting out of bed when the alarm goes off, when we have housework to do, or even when we have the opportunity to exercise, act immediately.

Ironically, when we were kids, the five-second rule meant picking food off the floor within 5 seconds in order for it to remain edible. Now as adults, this rule means we have to pick ourselves off the floor before our motivation expires.

Consistent action can help maintain your motivation and productivity. Which will in turn maintain our enthusiasm and our passion for life. Therefore, the next time you have the urge to do something, go for it. Otherwise, just like a message in a Tom Cruise movie, that impulse will self-destruct in 5 seconds.

So what are you waiting for?

Get going.