PERRY BUCHANAN: ‘Tomorrowitis’ a fitness obstacle

In last week’s article, I discussed having a “resolution restart” since the recent storms in Albany gave many of us a justifiable excuse to procrastinate. If you were affected, hopefully you are getting back to a normal lifestyle and now can commit to getting back on track with your fitness program. Our biggest concern now may be a condition known as “tomorrowitis.” Tomorrow is the most sought after day; the day that always brings us hope. Tomorrow is the magical place where all our dreams come true and all our goals are accomplished.

I hate to admit it, but I have to fight daily the urge to put off today what can be done tomorrow. It’s hard for me to get help because my Procrastinators Anonymous meetings keep getting rescheduled! Everyone procrastinates, but not everyone is a procrastinator. According to research, over one quarter of the earth’s population consists of chronic procrastinators. The delay of action is less about the ability to prioritize tasks than it is about possible genetic traits and behavior issues. To procrastinate is to become your own worst enemy. Evidence suggests procrastinators suffer from many stress-related ailments.

Research at DePaul University in Chicago identified two types of procrastinators. The first group was labeled as “arousal procrastinators,” those who delay until the last moment. This type procrastinator is only motivated by the task if it is close to a deadline or done under extreme pressure. The second group was characterized as “avoidance procrastinators.” This group is very concerned about how others perceive them. They are terrified by failure and can be chronic excuse makers. For both groups, the primary component of procrastination is rooted in emotion.

A large part of why tomorrow seems so appealing is because it acts as a stress release for all the pressure and anxiety we have built up around having to be perfect right now. By procrastinating, we can plan to push things into the future. “Once I start this plan there’s no turning back, so I’ll start on Monday, and have a last hurrah this weekend. For now I will eat, drink and be a merry procrastinator.” Sound familiar? This temporary comforting thought process allows us to procrastinate and opt for that second bowl of ice cream and another hour of TV versus heading to the gym for our workout.

The fact is, there is no tomorrow. It’s comforting to think that there will be one, but mathematically speaking there are a finite amount of tomorrows left, and eventually there will come a time when we’re not part of one. We never know when that day will come. One thing that I’ve found to be extremely beneficial is a gradual mindset shift, treating tomorrow not like a guarantee but more as a bonus. With that perspective, we’re much less likely to treat tomorrow as a closet where we toss the things we choose to put off doing today. Instead, it becomes an opportunity, something we get to do, not just feel obligated to do.

We’ve all been there. Just as New Year is the most popular time of year to start a diet or fitness program, Monday is the most popular day of the week to begin. Overcoming that initial momentum of not doing anything can be difficult. Ease into the process. Don’t get overwhelmed by thinking of the long struggle ahead. Set your long range goal and then only concentrate on the day to day action steps needed. By making the first step you take so simple and easy that it doesn’t overburden your mind, you won’t become paralyzed by focusing on everything that lies ahead. Build on that one action that left you feeling accomplished and let the momentum carry you to the next task.

New Year has passed and the seasons keep slipping by. Procrastination has ruled the day to this point. So, stop hitting that snooze button and stop putting it on your to do later list. It is possible to break these negative cycles when, and only when, we take the first initial action steps to move us in a positive direction. And the fact is, regardless of the season, today is always the best day to begin.

Perry Buchanan, owner of PT Gym, is certified as an Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine, and Fitness Nutrition Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Email him at [email protected]. Follow @ptgym on Twitter.