Create Compelling Workouts

Create Compelling Workouts With Smart Decision Making,– Designing and executing workouts that compel you to work hard is an example in reducing environmental friction.
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First, when a workout is “compelling,” it pulls you toward doing it. This is the opposite of being disciplined, which implies that you must push yourself to do it. Sure, all workouts will require discipline, but if they’re sufficiently compelling you won’t need to struggle quite as hard. If a programming strategy or decision makes your workouts significantly more compelling, the upside may be worth the downside of violating traditional programming. Examples:
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• Ordinarily, you’d use the same exercise menus for an entire training cycle, meaning every Monday you’d use the same exercises, trying to improve upon your previous best performances. However, on occasion, it may be worth violating this “rule” if it means you’ll work harder. For example, you might be scheduled to squat tomorrow, but for whatever reason the thought of squatting has you on the verge of skipping your workout altogether. You might, however, actually look forward to Bulgarian split squats. In such a case, make that substitution, even though it violates traditional programming principles, because working hard on split squats trumps doing a half-ass squat session (or skipping it).
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• Let’s say your program calls for improving upon your best set of 10 on weighted pull-ups today, which instinctively strikes you as impossible. However, maybe you suspect that you could beat your current 5-rep PR, and in fact, you’d be excited to give it a shot. In such a situation, make that decision.
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Caveat: You must distinguish between making a disciplined decision to salvage an impending failed workout, versus simply giving in to laziness. Only you can make that call, but here’s a rule of thumb: If you’re not sure if you’re just being lazy, you are. So suck it up and stick with the program