A regular staple of my cycling training is doing an hour on the turbo trainer. The aim is to replicate as much as possible the kind of efforts required on your typical Alpine climb, minus of course the Alpine climb. Without boring you with cycling geekery, it’s noticeable how the effort appears to get easier towards the end.
Some new research may provide an answer. The study found that when participants in an exercise game counted down the number of repetitions required rather than up, the time required to complete the task felt 20% shorter. In other words, the task felt easier if you counted down rather than up.
They also found that the participants were more inclined to buy the product used in the exercise, but that’s perhaps not quite as relevant as the increase in motivation discovered.
When you think about this in an exercise context it kind of makes sense. The value of training, and indeed the challenge, comes towards the end when things start to get tough. If you’re counting down, you have a small number left, thus your brain is reminded it’s near the end.
Next time I’m on the turbo trainer I’ll be sure to give this a go. Can you think of any non-exercise related applications of this?
I use this same concept when training with weights Adi. Smart tip! Counting down lessens the work load which helps you overcome the urge to quit. If you count down you also feel like you are accomplish something; as the number drops I feel motivated to go beyond, to push myself, to grow, and to persist like heck in all that I do.
One simple tip can change your life immeasurably. Great insight here Adi, thanks man!
Ryan
It's an interesting, yet very simple, idea huh? Must say it isn't one I've ever used before but shall certainly try and give it a go.