Is there some further bias we can eliminate that will enable us to drag our asses to the gym even when we’re feeling completely exhausted?
Yes, several. Unfortunately, the exact list is usually different from one person to the next. Here are a few I’ve had to get rid of:
The idea that people who like to exercise are jerks
The idea that it’s bad to be too exhausted
The idea that I shouldn’t have to do things if they’re uncomfortable
The idea that it’s embarrassing to exercise if I don’t already know how
The idea that if it’s too easy, I’ll be an idiot for not having done this sooner
This is less than a third of the full list, it’s just the ones that come to mind right off… and I’m not really done yet, either. I lost 27 pounds last year, and expect to do a similar amount this year, but my actual habit of exercising is still pretty erratic, due to another bias which I only just eliminated. (Still too soon to tell what impact it’s going to have.)
Illuminating list, thanks. It suggests a beautiful analogy between overcoming biases and removing muscle tensions you didn’t feel before—a quest that becomes second nature to actors and opera singers, for example.
Yes, several. Unfortunately, the exact list is usually different from one person to the next. Here are a few I’ve had to get rid of:
The idea that people who like to exercise are jerks
The idea that it’s bad to be too exhausted
The idea that I shouldn’t have to do things if they’re uncomfortable
The idea that it’s embarrassing to exercise if I don’t already know how
The idea that if it’s too easy, I’ll be an idiot for not having done this sooner
This is less than a third of the full list, it’s just the ones that come to mind right off… and I’m not really done yet, either. I lost 27 pounds last year, and expect to do a similar amount this year, but my actual habit of exercising is still pretty erratic, due to another bias which I only just eliminated. (Still too soon to tell what impact it’s going to have.)
Illuminating list, thanks. It suggests a beautiful analogy between overcoming biases and removing muscle tensions you didn’t feel before—a quest that becomes second nature to actors and opera singers, for example.