Hack: The word is everywhere. There are travel hacks, business hacks, gym hacks — there are even sex hacks. It seems there’s a shortcut to everything. Except there really isn’t.
Hack (per dictionary.com): “a person, as an artist or writer, who exploits, for money, his or her creative ability or training in the production of dull, unimaginative, and trite work; one who produces banal and mediocre work in the hope of gaining commercial success in the arts.”
I love how Rich Roll talks about it for a Revitalize video: When did “hacking” something become a good thing?
Most people are looking for the easy way — looking to getting rid of the arm flab without lifting a weight, lose 20 pounds while not changing a thing or run a marathon without a plan. I’m here to tell you: There is no easy way. There is no hack to getting healthy. Even if there are several blog posts (here, here and here) that will tell you otherwise.
Running a marathon, losing weight, and getting healthy are long games. They take day-in-and-day-out work.
It’s not easy, and no one ever said it would be.
In fact, it’s downright hard — eating healthy, being mindful, losing weight, finishing the project, keeping the motivation going, and on and on.
And though it may not be easy, there are ways to make it easier.
It’s not easy for me to get up early every day. But I know that I’m a much better person in general if I’ve had a little time to myself before I engage with others. I know that if I move my body early, I’m going to feel 100 times better once I’m done — and I’ve moved, so my day is free for other things. This is what helps me rise. This helps me beat down resistance. It’s not easy, but this thought makes it easier.
Name what you want to achieve: losing weight, running a race, improving life and health in general. Instead of looking for a shortcut, how can you make it easier? A shift in thinking. A partner to hold you accountable. A gadget to track your time. Something. Anything.
What might help you? We’d love to know.
There is no hack. It may not be easy, but it’s worth it.