A workout, particularly one in which we’re following an instructor or a set progression of exercises, has a clear start and end.

If it’s a challenging routine, odds are we won’t make it through cleanly. We’ll need to take unplanned breaks, or we’ll fall short of the rep targets.

One potential approach is to optimize our performance to make it through. We can cut a corner here and there, and suddenly we’re following along perfectly. It feels like we’ve accomplished something.

Only, that’s not the point. We don’t exercise so we can improve our perceived performance during the workout, we exercise so we can be better in every other part of life.

If the effort to consciously contract the core muscles during a plank means that we’ll fall 30 seconds short of our record, oh well.

That focus to build the body rather than stroke the ego will more than pay off in the long run.

-Brandon