Day 78: The Minimum
And...it adds up!
Action
Identify the smallest version of one important practice that you are willing to do even on a difficult day.
Standard
Never let zero become the default.
Today’s Reading
People often ask me for the perfect workout, but I am more interested in the workout you will still do when the day falls apart. There is value in knowing your minimum because difficult days are not exceptions. Flights get delayed, meetings run long, grandchildren arrive, and sometimes you simply have a terrible day.
Maybe the normal session includes several lifts, carries, mobility work, and a walk. Excellent. On a difficult day, do a few goblet squats, hang from something, carry something, walk around the block, or practice your lifts with an easy load. Get on the floor and get back up.
The minimum is not the goal; it is the bridge back to the goal. Five minutes of writing keeps a writer connected to the work, a short walk keeps the walker walking, and preparing one decent meal can prevent a difficult day from becoming a difficult week.
There are days for personal records and days for survival, and good coaching knows the difference. The person who understands the minimum can remain in the game while everyone else waits for life to become perfect again.
The Ted Williams Program. This came with the 110 pound/50kilogram set from Sears. I still comeback to this book and principles whenever I get too lost in the noise.
Coaching Vocabulary
Minimum: The smallest useful dose of a practice that preserves continuity during difficult circumstances.
Reflection
What is the minimum I can always do?
This lesson is adapted from Dan John’s book, Fitness Forge, originally written as Tools of Coaching. Learn more at danjohnuniversity.com/bookstore.