The Last 10

After five years of doing it daily, my workout routine isn’t exactly a challenge. 50 push-ups and 100 sit-ups? Easy enough—but for me, working out is not about growing muscles. It’s about moving every day.

Despite this, I still have lazy moments. I won’t rise as much on each sit-up. I’ll slightly adjust my position to make the push-ups more comfortable. But even when I’m just going through the motions, I’ll start to feel the strain during the last ten reps, and that’s the window for magic to occur. Whenever I can find the courage to do so, I lean in. I try harder. I rise a little higher or get my nose closer to the ground.

If all the workout does is wake me up in the morning, then I’m already satisfied. But if I can push myself a bit more and put in real effort—even only for the last ten reps—then I’ll start my day with an extra dose of happiness.

The only way to maintain a daily habit for life is to keep expectations low. The only way for that habit to continue to feel rewarding is to give it your best from time to time.

It’s okay if courage is late to the party. You’re allowed to show up for the last ten—because every single iteration counts, and like good pizza, most endeavors get crispy at the end.