I’m all for making healthy habits as enjoyable, easy, efficient and effective as possible. But I recently heard the term invisible reps, and it really got me thinking.
It’s such a good reminder of something I think we all need to recognise when we’re working towards our goals. Very annoyingly (!!), we can’t just click our fingers and expect to get to where we want to be. We actually have to do the work.
And often, that means doing things over and over again without seeing much progress or knowing whether they’re actually making a difference.
These are our invisible reps.
In a world where we’re constantly being promised instant results and quick fixes, I think it’s easy to forget just how important they are. I’ve certainly had to remind myself of this over the years.
My three years of invisible reps
When I was training for my Ironman triathlon, it took me three very long years to get to that finish line.
Three years of getting up early, training when I rarely felt like it, crying a lot (have I ever told you about the all-day indoor cycling session I did during COVID…) and doing countless sessions where it felt like I was getting absolutely nowhere.
There were so many times when I wondered whether all that effort was actually making a difference. Even when I got to that start line, I really didn’t know whether I’d done enough.
But every training session was another invisible rep. And somehow, I managed to keep showing up, week in, week out, for three years.
And eventually, all those reps added up. Not only did I finish the Ironman, but I finished nearly three hours faster than my goal, which was simply to finish before the cut-off time of 16 hours and 30 minutes!
And I think creating a healthy, energised life is much the same.
Invisible reps in everyday life
We don’t have to train for an Ironman, but we do have to put in our invisible reps.
Things like doing those often-dreaded strength training sessions, getting to bed a little earlier, making time to prepare nutritious food, taking a few minutes to practise mindfulness or choosing to do something that energises us.
None of these things might seem particularly life-changing at the time.
You might go for a walk today and not feel any different tomorrow. You might start improving your sleep habits and wonder why you’re still waking up tired.
And it’s easy to think, What’s the point? This isn’t working.
But when we keep doing these things consistently, over time they can start to make a difference. And eventually, they can become habits that are simply part of how we live.
That’s what I love about this concept.
Creating an effortlessly energised life doesn’t mean we don’t have to make an effort to get there.
It means working on creating simple habits that fit our lives, so that eventually, looking after ourselves becomes something we do naturally, without having to think about it all the time.
And perhaps one day we’ll look back and realise just how far we’ve come.
I think recognising this is important. Progress isn’t always obvious, results can take time and we don’t need to give up just because we’re not seeing an immediate difference.
We can make the process enjoyable, easy and realistic. But we still need to show up and do the work.
And those invisible reps don’t have to be big or difficult. Even the tiniest actions can make a difference when we keep doing them.
What are your invisible reps?
I’d love you to think about the invisible reps you’re already doing.
What are some of the things you’re doing consistently to look after your health and energy levels, even if you’re not seeing the results you’d like just yet?
Perhaps you’re making more time for movement, improving your sleep habits or finding ways to include more nutritious food in your day.
Give yourself some credit for those efforts. It’s easy to focus on what we haven’t achieved yet and overlook all the things we’re already doing.
And if there’s something you’ve been putting off because it feels like it won’t make much difference, perhaps this is your reminder to start.
Choose one tiny action that feels realistic for you and see how you go with doing it consistently.
Every rep counts, even the ones you can’t see.
Here’s to getting your spark back and creating a life you love!
Shine bright
Tania