Why should we exercise?

With only a few days left of this year, I want to take this opportunity to invite some reflection. My work is largely about helping people, specifically change and even more specifically sustainable change. That can mean either starting to do something, doing more of something, doing less of something, or maybe even stopping doing something altogether.

Achieving sustainable change is based on constantly asking questions and questioning what and why we do what we do. Without first knowing what the desired change will lead to, it is impossible to know if it will lead to something better.

The questions we should ask ourselves can often be perceived as harsh and provocative, which is also the purpose. It is only when we touch a sore spot that we become aware of it. If our feelings are not aroused, we will just continue as before.

I wouldn't do my job by saying something is good if it isn't. If a person can't answer why they need my help, I won't be able to help them. The last thing I want to do is put a lot of energy into something that won't make a difference anyway, and for me it's also about understanding how it will make a difference.

During these weekends when everyday life is broken and we may have a little extra free time, it can be time for reflection. Something that we should actually do regularly and which in many cases is as important as conducting follow-up tests of our training. Without them, we do not know if what we are doing leads to what we want. The advice I always give to my athletes before a new start is to stop and think about why we are actually training? For many, this question can be more difficult than the absolute hardest training imaginable.

There are no right or wrong answers here and the first thing we should perhaps ask ourselves is what is the purpose of the training or if we even have a purpose? Is the reason we train because it makes us feel good or is it about trying to achieve some specific goal? Regardless of our answer, it is the follow-up questions that increase the intensity.

For example, if the answer is that we exercise to feel good, what makes us feel good? Is it because the release of endorphins makes us feel more positive about life or is it because we feel proud that we have completed the exercise? If I exercise to lose weight, the question is why should I lose weight? What would be better if I reached my desired weight? Do we exercise just to be able to compare ourselves with others? Do we value ourselves as better because we exercise more or as worse because we do not?

If the training is instead for a specific goal, what do we hope to gain by achieving that goal? Have we thought about why we are actually spending so much time and energy on achieving this specific goal? Do I have a realistic picture of what the goal will actually entail?

The more specific answers we can give ourselves, the more we will see the value of our work and training. A common insight is that we only train out of habit or to get attention from others. None of this is inherently wrong and the sooner we realize this is the case, the sooner we can make a change. However, there can be much more serious reasons why we train. Some can be downright destructive, but if we just become aware of why, we can also be helped to find better ways.

As you might imagine, we all have our own personal reasons for exercising, and some forms of exercise are more effective than others. So is there something universal to strive for when it comes to exercise and physical activity? My experience tells me that there is. What all exercise should include and aim for is to develop us as individuals. That it contributes to making us stronger in our everyday lives.

Understanding also plays a role here, i.e. that we understand not only that what we do will lead to improvement, but also how. Increased understanding is also development. So it doesn't matter whether the development is on an intellectual or physical level. The only important thing is that we do it purely because we want to.

The purpose of this post was not to ruin the nice Christmas atmosphere we may be in, but to make us think a little deeper. What gives us the most energy and motivation is when we can see both where we are going and why, then there is usually no problem seeing how to get there!

There is so much more I could add to this extremely important topic, but that will have to be for another time! If you have any questions about what we have discussed here, you can also contact me via support@kona-sports.com or call me on +46 (0)141 21 70 70.

Go out and enjoy your progress, wherever you are! Have a great weekend!

/Magnus R Lindstedt