Set it, then Go Get it!

12th April 2020

The alarm does not go off…

I wipe the sleep from my eyes and roll over to kiss my girlfriend on the forehead before I mutter a croaky “good morning”.

But I don’t sit up to move from my the bed.

My body is stiff as I go through my routine of contracting and relaxing the muscles of my feet, quads and glutes.

But I make no effort to stand up and mobilise.

I wait for a wave of motivation to wash over me. A reason to jump out of bed and begin my day with intention.

It doesn’t come.

Eventually my stomach makes itself known by grumbling it’s dissatisfaction and I shuffle over to the fridge and begin to prepare my breakfast.

This has been the theme for the last few days. Tim Ferriss would shudder with disappointment knowing what had become of my morning routine.

A week prior, my alarm would wake me at 5am, and while I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t exactly leap out of bed at the sound of it, I had begun to miss the awful screech.

The reality is, in my world, this corona virus situation has not only resulted in the closure of gyms and the loss of my job, but also the loss of purpose and identity.

And I guarantee I’m not the only one.

Millions of people around Australia and the world have lost their jobs, which in turn, for many, equates to a loss of purpose and meaning in their lives.

Our jobs provide us with a degree of challenge in our lives. Our jobs provide us the feeling that we are contributing meaningfully and adding value to people’s live. Our jobs provide us with a sense of identity so when we meet someone we can introduce ourselves as a CrossFit coach.

We don’t know how long this will go on for. So what can we do?

Set an alarm. Simple.

Why?

Because an alarm is a call to action. An alarm is responsibility knocking at your door. An alarm is that first piece of adversity waiting to be challenged. An alarm is an intentional decision to begin the day with purpose.

And as soon as you get up and beat that alarm, you’ve just celebrated your first victory. Now you are in control. Now you decide what you want to make of the day. And now you get to work.

Damn… I just went full Jocko Willink there. But if there ever was a time for that message, it is now.

Make a routine. Write your intentions. Do some form of movement. All of these are incredibly important to reclaiming your identity and finding new purpose.

But, It all starts with that alarm. So set it, then go get it!