Consistency is a Muscle
In CrossFit methodology, there is a core tenet of
mechanics - consistency - intensity
It relates to the learning and execution of movement. First, one must perform a movement soundly, then be able to perform it consistently well, before adding intensity to its execution.
But consistency is not just for movement; It is for life. It’s something you can train, like squats and your VO2 max. And I feel like it’s going unnoticed on people’s radar. When I was young, I thought that talent would bring me success or happiness. I have learned that while talent is helpful, it is consistency that has the strongest correlation to success.
Like any good mid-30 YO halfway through the 2020 global pandemic, I began evaluating my life… and of course my shortcomings. I discovered patterns of inconsistent action. Instances where I had excellent intentions but poor long term execution for one reason or another - these were failures across a variety of sectors in my life, not exclusive to my expression of health & fitness.
So, in October of 2020, I set out with a very specific goal of strengthening my consistency muscle. I committed to a daily ice bath (or cold shower when unavailable) until the end of 2020 - a total of 90+ days. (As I write this, I have just completed my 100th day; mostly because once I made it to 90, I realized 100 sounded cooler.)
This was intended to be a personal experiment for myself. N = 1, you know? A few folks at my gym took up the challenge as well, each selecting their own poison of choice, but my intention and focus was rooted in a personal curiosity into my own shortcomings, default patterns of behavior, and ability for change.
My reasoning behind this 90-day experiment included:
Excluding my sports career in my 20's, I’ve never done anything intentionally for that length of time (one time I did Whole30 nutrition program. It was 30 days. I was successful. But that’s where my record stands.)
I was curious as to what I would learn about myself in the process. Not just the cold exposure. But the practice of doing something (anything!) for 90-days in a row.
I was yearning for a way to add some minute element of simple structure to the remaining 3 months of a chaotic year.
I wanted to strengthen my “consistency muscle”.
A future post will cover my reflections on the entire 90-day journey, in the meantime, here’s the realization I've had so far:
Consistency is magic
It is the least sexy, least glamorous muscle on our body. And it might just be one of the hardest to train. But anything worth accomplishing cannot be done without it. Sometimes you have to isolate it - and strengthen the skill itself. Like picking a simple task to complete daily for a long period of time. I call this consistency “grunt work”. Nothing technical here prevents someone from succeeding. Just accomplish the task - like farmer carries or sled pulls.
Other times, consistency has to be applied in a progressive manner towards a specific goal you want. At that point, it’s not necessarily about doing the same exact routine every day, but rather consistently practicing behavior in alignment with a goal, over a long duration of time. This is like a linear periodization that gradually strengthens our consistency muscle. Both of these tactics will contribute to strength & life PR’s.
Consistency is deceptively hard
Be wary fellow seeker! On paper, the consistency muscle appears so simple! Want X? Do Y. Repeatedly. But obstacles will inevitably arise; excuses and justifications will tantalize our lips; bystanders and naysayers who don’t understand will wantonly strip away pieces of our momentum. Undertake an exploration in consistency, and you will experience it all - regardless of your pursuit - a nutrition habit, a new skill, a behavior, etc.
After strengthening the consistency muscle in isolation, the next step is to successfully integrate it in pursuit of complex and compound objectives. Similar to bodybuilding - huge biceps from curls are nice on their own, but the inability to complete a pull-up would indicate a stunted ability to express that muscle’s purpose and function.
I am no consistency-ninja. But the ROI from this “meso-cycle” of consistency training has been well-worth the discomfort of 4:00 of daily cold. I’ve got insight on:
my patterns of behavior
my keys to successful consistency
the direct connection of my mind to impact my body
Go get your own consistency reps in. No one can do this for you.
The secret? It doesn’t have to be complicated.
You just have to keep doing it.
xoxo, meatheads
-Kir