This is why the “bad” workouts are often the most important ones.
Sluggish days and bad workouts maintain the compound gains you accrued
from previous good days. Simply doing something—ten squats, five sprints,
a push-up, anything really—is huge. Don’t put up a zero. Don’t let losses
eat into your compounding.
Furthermore, it’s not always about what happens during the workout. It’s
about being the type of person who doesn’t miss workouts. It’s easy to train
when you feel good, but it’s crucial to show up when you don’t feel like it
—even if you do less than you hope. Going to the gym for five minutes
may not improve your performance, but it reaffirms your identity.
The all-or-nothing cycle of behavior change is just one pitfall that can
derail your habits. Another potential danger—especially if you are using a
habit tracker—is measuring the wrong thing.
