My Top 3 Adroit Habit Blog Posts
It was super tough to pick my top three habit-related blogs.
I tried to focus on a well-rounded group covering both lifestyle and training. It was even a battle to pick the extras. I highly recommended taking a gander at all of the habit-focused blogs when you have the time.
What is Habit Stacking?
I love this tactic. It’s simple, yet can have a profound impact. If you’re looking to revamp your habits and daily routine, habit stacking can definitely help.
It’s this idea that you pair a desired habit with an already established existing habit. You’re more likely to start and keep up with the new habit. The consistency will transform the new habit to one you don’t even have to think of completing.
A formula to follow is: “After I [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT].”
This will use natural momentum to your advantage. You’re using the energy and mental power used to complete the current habit to then accomplish the new one. Remember: action leads to more action.
Getting into the habit of habit stacking is an ideal way for your current self to keep promises to the future you.
You’re creating a clear plan of action to become the person you want to be. It takes the guesswork out – equipping you with the “how” and “when.”
There’s SO much more to unpack by rereading the original article here.
Strengthening Your Core
I cannot stress the importance enough of getting into the habit of incorporating strength exercises for your core.
There are six muscles to the core that work together. They protect the pelvis and most importantly, the spine. Weakness and activation deficit lead to injury as well as lower back pain.
It is vital that you train these muscles often to strengthen them proactively.
Examples of core stabilization exercises include:
Glute bridges
Glute bridge march
Planks + plank variations
Dead bugs with medicine ball or sandbag
Pallof press
Oblique cable twists
Aim to perform these types of exercises a few times a week – ideally, two to three times.
Visit the full article for more details here.
Ways to Overcome Training Plateaus
This post is an oldie but a goodie. It offers actionable advice for everyone who trains. We all hit a plateau at some point and this blog post can help avoid them from occurring often as well as decrease the amount of time you stay in one.
The right tools and techniques can help curb the frustrating, discouraging feelings that come along with plateaus.
I cover five different ways in this post including: progressive overload, training blocks, rest time between sets, exercise variations and mindset. Each comes with massive benefits when followed regularly with intention. Let’s quickly review:
Progressive Overload – increasing number of sets, reps or weight; increasing time under tension; or increasing frequency
Training Blocks – completing the same movements for anywhere from four to 12 weeks; at the end of the chosen time, a change to how the movements are completed should be made
Rest Time Between Sets – wait 30 to 60 seconds between sets to ensure muscles get a good break; a person’s goals will influence the amount of time i.e. 30 to 90 seconds for hypertrophy and one to five minutes for strength training
Exercise Variations – try different versions of an exercise or burnouts for that muscle group
Mindset – watch how you speak to yourself; ask yourself tough questions and be honest
There are A TON of details that can be found in the full post.
Additional Posts
Other great habit-focused blog posts:
Takeaways
You might think you know a lot of tricks and that you have no trouble keeping up with your good-for-you habits.
However, learning and reading about topics you already know can never be a bad thing. There’s always an opportunity to learn something new or gain a different perspective. A refresher is good for everyone from time to time.