I Go 100

I have a new ritual.

Before I do a session on the ergometer (rowing machine), I drink a cup of hot chocolate. It's weird because I've never really been a hot chocolate drinker, and one would think it's more of a soothing drink than something to rev you up. I must get a bit of a sugar and caffeine hit from this. But I'm thinking that there is more involved to this ritual than that.

Whenever I drink the HC (hot chocolate), I know that I will be rowing immediately afterward. Even if I don't feel like exercising – if I drink the HC, the next thing I do automatically is row. It appears that I've created a connection in my mind where the HC triggers the next activity.

I read about this concept of using triggers to create habits from Leo Babauta on his new website called 6Changes.com. If you want to change a habit – either in creating a new habit or halting an old one, you change the activity immediately preceding it. Leo defines a trigger as "an event that will kick off that automatic urge to do a habit. Habits become automatic after we’ve created a bond between the trigger and the habit — the stronger the bond, the more ingrained the habit."

So if I'm having trouble mustering the motivation to row, I head for the kitchen and make a cup of this yummy drink. I have no problem in making it, because I enjoy it so much. And then, when I'm done, I'm ready to row. No questions asked. A perfect combination.

Now I'm trying to stop my ice cream addiction through the power of decaf coffee. Think it'll work?

(Just a quick note to everyone that I'm finally back on the erg! Yesterday I broke my 12 day erg fast – brought on by a nasty flu – with an easy 10km session. It felt like slipping on an old pair of sneakers and I was so relieved to be back. Today I did another 10km and feel even stronger and ready to get back to some long rows)