In 2001 researchers in Britain conducted an experiment.
—————— “Combining Motivational and Volitional Interventions to Promote Exercise Participation: Protection Motivation Theory and Implementation Intentions” – Milne, Orbell and Sheeran for those of you that like references —————-
248 people split into three groups.
The first group (let’s call them “the first group”) were just told to record how often they worked out over the next two weeks.
The second group (who I’ll call “the second group”) were given some ‘motivational’ material to read about the benefits of exercise and then sent to record as with “the first group”.
The third group (“Group C”) did the same as above but also, were asked to plan when they intended to exercise by completing the phrase “During the next week, I will partake in at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise on DAY at TIME in PLACE.”
I’ve given away what happened in the blog title haven’t I?
35% of “the first group” and 38% of “the second group” then exercised at least once in each of those weeks.
For “Group C” it was 91%.
Couple of interesting things there.
Next to no benefit from the ‘motivational’ material.
That’s why we don’t do what most FitPros do and most ‘motivational memes’ all day – pointless.
But, most importantly, those who set an intention of when they would exercise were waaaayyyyyy more likely to then do it.
It’s what can be referred to as an ‘Implementation intention’.
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
You don’t have to set a specific intention to workout (or eat better or anything else), of course.
But if you’re consistently not planning when and where you’ll exercise…………
And consistently then not exercising (enough)…………
Then you’re missing a trick.
A trick that, in this case at least, more than doubles the likelihood that you’ll do it.
Existing members, get your sessions booked in for the following week on the app.
Pop them in your diary / schedule.
————– Just ‘thinking it’ doesn’t work BTW ——————
They may end up getting re-arranged as circumstance dictates.
But they are much more likely to happen.
Not a member, you know what to do –> myrise.co.uk/briefing-meeting 🙂
Much love,
Jon ‘Groupon’ Hall and Matt ‘Group 4’ Nicholson
