A HARDWORKING man shared the unique process he followed to ensure that he would get up early to go to the gym before work.
His secret hack to success is the “Kaizen method,” which works well when willpower isn’t enough and you want to get your workout in.
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Reddit user Disciplinemotivation recently started a new job that takes a while to drive to.
He shared a specific method in a post to make sure he was up and attentive so he could hit the gym by 5:30 am before he clocked in.
“The most important thing is that you take willpower out of the equation,” he said.
The methodology he followed was something called the Kaizen method.
“Picture every little step and action you will need to perform to get out of bed,” he explained.
He added that this works for everything in life, even though it’s often used in workspaces.
It’s “an approach to creating continuous movement in your life,” according to Tech Target.
For him, this included twelve specific steps.
STEP-BY-STEP
First, his phone alarm went off at 5 am to wake him up.
In step two, he opened his eyes and took a deep breath before counting down from five and jolting up into a sitting position as part of step three.
He called step three the “backbone” of the whole method because you will most likely fail at first, but encouraged others to “keep trying every day.”
“If you want to want to get up earlier, you should also go to sleep earlier,” he advised.
He added that the “whole point” of doing Kaizen is to “create the habit of waking up and to become a person who wakes up early.”
Next, he said he “instantly” throws the blankets off his body and puts his feet on the ground.
UP AND AT ‘EM
In step five, he said he stands up, walks over to the phone, which he keeps on the other side of the room, and turns off the alarm as part of step six.
“I recommend not ever having a phone next to your bed and also turn it on flight mode,” he advised.
That way he isn’t tempted to go back to sleep.
As soon as he grabs his phone, he opens the doors and leaves the room, but does not look at the device in his hands.
Once you’re up and moving, fill a glass with cold water and gulp it down in step eight.
What is the Kaizen method?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency noted that Kaizen, or “rapid improvement processes,” is the “building block” of all lean production methods.
It focuses on “eliminating waste, improving productivity, and achieving sustained continual improvement in targeted activities and processes of an organization.
According to Kaizen Institute founder Masaaki Imai, “Kaizen means improvement. Moreover, it means continuing improvement in personal life, home life, social life, and working life.”
The five principles of Kaizen are to create customer value, create flow efficiency, be Gemba or workplace-oriented, empower and engage people, and create visual standards.
It can be applied to several industries and fields, including healthcare, engineering, automotive, construction, pharmaceuticals, as well as your personal life.
By following the principles daily, it can lead to more productivity and structure.
He suggested going outside on a balcony and taking a deep breath while stretching in the next step, but if you don’t have one, prioritize fresh air in the morning.
“Guys this part is absolutely crucial if you want to wake up okay? MOVE YOUR BODY, take deep breaths, and allow the cold to wake up,” he said.
He said he doesn’t leave the spot until he feels like he is fully awake.
“Do jumping jacks or anything that you feel might help you it doesn’t matter as long as you move your body and breathe in cold air,” he added.
In step ten, the Reddit user looks up at the sky to “release natural hormones in the brain” that wake him up.
“This function is severely impaired in people who drink a lot of coffee because they build up a tolerance,” he explained.
The last two steps are to just get dressed in sporty attire and then grab your gym bag and head out the door.
REWARDING RESULTS
Although he got himself to the exercise facility at 5:30 am, the Redditor said that he didn’t force myself to work out at first.
“I just told myself to walk through the door and get into the gym. Whatever I did was extra at first,” he explained.
“Some days you will be so tired that your brain will be like ‘I can’t do 45 minutes of training,’ and then you can say ‘I don’t need to do 45 minutes of training. I just need to walk through the door.'”
Lastly, the final step is to “REWARD YOURSELF,” which he said is “so important.”
“Willpower alone will fail you. Picture over and over what you want to be doing when the alarm goes off until you know it by heart,” he advised.
