The definition of inertia is  1) a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged. 2) PHYSICS
a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force.

Some times to overcome inertia, I use trickery.  I don’t run in the winter.  So every spring I start up again.  As much as I love running and even though I teach fitness, it is a supreme effort for me to begin to run again.  I started last week with ten minutes.  That is one trick, whatever task you have been putting off, tell yourself you will just do it for 5 or 10 minutes.  Most likely once you start you will keep going.

I used a few other tricks this year.  I told myself I would only run the down hills on my first time out running this year.  Well once I got out there I also ran the flat parts of my route and even hit a big hill.  The other way was to go to a nature center.  I live about 20 minutes away so it adds 40 minutes to my workout time.  It is so worth it as I love running the trails (my knees thank me afterwards).  I try to combine my nature center runs with other errands in the same area.

You can also try to reward yourself to overcome inertia.  Finding healthy rewards can be a challenge.  I would reward my self with a massage after a long run.  When I first started teaching a low impact aerobics I had two women join who had never stuck with exercise.  They were friends and decided to reward themselves with margaritas and chips after class, every class.  Although they learned to love the class and working out, they did not achieve the lean muscle mass they desired.

I felt more inertia this winter than I had in a long time.  It was brutal.  “The real key is to live in an environment where the mind feels free to choose the right thing instead of being compelled by habit and inertia to choose the wrong thing.” Deepak Chopra  Spring is a time for renewing.  Is there anything you want to start?  Maybe try a trick or two….