Chocolate before working out?

Sometimes the reward comes first.

Being outdoors is not a “reward”, but an essential part of who I am

Last night, we took a walk around our new campground. The “weekend campers” (those who camp on weekends or for vacation) were setting up their campfires and playing yard games. “They’ve got camping right”, my husband commented. These people embraced the essence of what camping is about: slowing down, being outdoors, and savoring free time. We became full-time campers so we could slow down, be outdoors, and have more freedom ourselves. Not as a weekend reward, but as part of our daily lives. Yet lately, it seems that these are the very things I’ve been saving for later, as a “reward”.

How often do you postpone something you love, calling it a “reward”? “I’ll spend time outdoors after I put in a full day’s work” and “I’ll have free time on the weekend” is my typical thought process. First, I must do “x” (my “Have-Tos” ), and then I can reward myself with “y” (my “Want-Tos”). What if we reversed the order? How might putting the wants before the haves impact how we feel and show up?

Last week, I told my coach I was feeling overwhelmed. After I described my calendar and to-do list, he observed that though I highly value freedom, I’d stripped away freedom from my daily schedule. Without making time for the things that I want, like free time or a walk outdoors, of course, I felt overwhelmed…