The Way to Land's End

The countdown clock on my phone reminds me that my trip along the El Camino de Santiago is 3 months, 7 days away.  Over the past couple of months, I have held fairly steadfast to my walking schedule…typically 5 miles per day with a long walk of 8 miles squeezed in as time permits.  However, the typical Florida late afternoon summer showers have begun and wreaked havoc on my momentum. I feel some concern that I am not training hard enough and irritation that I have lost my stride.

My son recently recommended an outstanding book to me entitled “The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business” by Charles Duhigg. In it, the author breaks down scientifically how habits are formed. Generally, there is a cue and reward. For example, he gives the history of how we have formed the habit of brushing our teeth. Before WWI, only 7% of households had a tube of toothpaste in the cabinet. An advertising executive developed a campaign that took into account human nature’s need for a cue/reward system to develop a habit. He used advertisements to remind consumers about the film on their teeth and showed pictures of  beautiful smiles to demonstrate the effect of brushing their teeth. There we have our cue (filmy teeth/funky breath) and the reward (beautiful teeth/fresh breath).  The author goes on to state that a final piece is needed….a way to turn that reward into a craving. In the case of the toothpaste company’s campaign, they were successful because they added an ingredient into their formula that caused a minty, tingly sensation. Consumers began to crave this fresh minty tingle and thus a societal habit was formed. After the 10 year advertising campaign by Pepsodent, 65% of U.S. households had toothpaste in their homes.

This story got me to thinking….can I design a cue/reward system to help myself develop better habits in life? And most immediately, how can I use these guidelines to develop a habit to train for my Camino? I could set out my hiking clothes next to my bed each night. In the mornings, the clothes would be my cue to walk.  My reward can be a delicious breakfast afterwards or the endorphins generated from physical activity.  I’m not so sure though…this seems too simplistic. We are such complex creatures. In the moments of early morning, the comfort of my bed can easily outweigh the pleasures of a scrumptious breakfast!

My stagnation in my training schedule is a reflection of the general stagnation I feel in life right now. I had a lot of momentum going in my early adult years. I developed strong habits to accomplish those goals that were so important to me – raising my son to be a well-rounded, loving human being, completing my education and rising in my career. My son is now a grown man that I am incredibly proud of. I completed my MBA and several professional certifications. And while I am proud of my career, the daily work grind has become a bore to me. Those goals that kept me grounded most of my adulthood have evaporated and now that I’ve rounded the corner of mid-life, what goals am I working towards?  Retirement? Ugh! How dreary.

The one thing I am pretty sure of in this upcoming Camino adventure is that approximately 45 days of getting up each morning, walking between 15-20 miles, arriving at a new town, showering, washing clothes, eating dinner, sleeping and doing it all over again, is going to shake up my routine and give me the opportunity to develop some new habits. And at the very least, it will give me some quiet time and space to think on what new goals I want to work towards in life.

In the meantime, I think having more specific, detailed daily goals will help keep me on track. I will walk 5 miles per day on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. On Tuesdays & Thursdays, I will go to the gym and do 45 minutes of elevation work on the treadmill by walking at an increasingly steep incline. Sundays will be my long walks.  I will start out at 8 miles, increase to 10 miles on June 25th, 12 miles on July 9th, 13 miles on July 30th, 14 miles on August 6th, 15 miles on August 20th and my last long walk will be on September 3rd at 16 miles. I will begin adding my backpack on the August 13th walk. Monday is a rest day.

Any ideas on good rewards to keep me motivated? Perhaps if I meet all my goals for the week,  I will go out after the long walk on Sundays for a decadent dessert?  Or perhaps just the peace of mind in knowing I’m as prepared as I can be will be the best motivation….