I’ve always dreamed of being one of those people who wake up quite early in the morning and start their day with a jog in nature or with a session at the gym. But despite following a lot of motivational speakers and making plans to workout early, I struggled to make it happen.

But something changed recently. I decided to be more active throughout the day, taking small steps that would make me move a little more. Things like getting off the train one station earlier and taking the longer walk to work, climbing the first flight of stairs before using the elevator at home, or doing my grocery shopping in a neighbourhood a bit farther away instead of the one just five minutes from home.

Having started this habit in spring, unintentionally, nature supported my intention, and music lifted me up. On longer walks, I would listen to podcasts or enjoy the company of a cup of coffee.

Then my colleague asked me to join her yoga classes, and I took this as an opportunity to push myself a bit further. I subscribed to the sports application the company supports and identified the centres closest to me, in which I could workout.

Someone once said that if you want to build the habit of going regularly to the gym, start small – as small as just getting to the gym, doing any workout for five minutes and then heading back home. The act of getting there is your goal at the beginning. That’s what I did, aiming for nothing but a 20-minute leisure walk on the treadmill.

Slowly, being around people with discipline and focus had a positive influence on me, and I found myself starting to enjoy it.

Now, I’m not saying I’ve come a long way since spring, but I’ve definitely made progress. Those 20 leisurely minutes a couple of times a week have turned into 50 minutes of solid consistent effort.

Awakening the inner-DJ

I have to admit, though, none of this would’ve happened without EDM. The fast-paced, energetic beats have been a huge motivator!

Yesterday at the gym, an idea occurred to me that will probably make my walks more enjoyable. To describe it, I need to paint a picture.

Standing on the belt, you face the treadmill control board, where you adjust your speed and incline, track your heartbeat, time, and distance. But there’s also another very important board: your Spotify playlist.

With the beats playing, I adjust my speed to match the music. Even changing the volume helps me find my pace.

I usually start at a medium tempo and gradually turn it up as I increase the speed. At one point, I felt like a DJ! The audience in front of me, and instead of walking, I was almost dancing, playing with my two boards: the treadmill board and the Spotify board.

That was quite fun! With the right music, I honestly believe I could stay on the treadmill for an hour or even throw in a few minutes of CrossFit, moving almost like a dance 💃🏻 It is about time this becomes normal 😉

I love the analogy James Clear made in his book ‘Atomic Habits’ where he compares making small changes to shifting the route of an airplane a few degrees.

“If a pilot leaving from LAX adjusts the heading just 3.5 degrees south, you will land in Washington D.C. instead of New York.” – James Clear, Atomic Habits

So true transformation is not loud or sparkling, it’s an increment, the results of which you will be proud to look at years from now.