Alright, so I’m gonna walk you through this “undertaker streak” thing I’ve been messing with. Don’t expect any magic, just straight up trial and error.
It all started last week, I was bored and saw some folks online talking about commitment and small daily wins. Got me thinking about how often I start projects and then just… stop. So, I figured I’d try and build some discipline, right?
Phase one: Pick Something Stupid Simple
I knew myself well enough to know that if I picked something too complicated, I’d quit by day three. So I decided on doing one push-up a day. Yeah, seriously. Just one. The goal wasn’t fitness, it was consistency.
- Day 1: One push-up. Felt ridiculous.
- Day 2: Another one. Still ridiculous, but I did it.
- Day 3: Started thinking about when I would do it. Decided on right after I brush my teeth in the morning.
Ramping Up (Slowly)
After a week of this nonsense, I figured I could probably handle a little more. The key here was not to overdo it. I bumped it up to two push-ups a day.
- Week 2: Two push-ups. Fine. No problem.
- Week 3: Added a second exercise – one squat. Still easy.
The Challenge Begins
Okay, so now we’re a month in. The routine is basically autopilot. Brush teeth, two push-ups, one squat. Takes like, ten seconds. Time to actually make this a little challenging.
I decided to double the reps every week, but only if I didn’t miss a single day. If I missed a day, I started back at the base level. Here’s how it went:
- Week 4: 4 push-ups, 2 squats
- Week 5: 8 push-ups, 4 squats
- Week 6: 16 push-ups, 8 squats. This is where it started to suck a little.
The Missed Day
Yep, it happened. Week 7. Travel day. Totally forgot until I was already at the airport. I could have done them in the bathroom, but honestly, I was just annoyed and didn’t. So, I reset.
- Week 8: 2 push-ups, 1 squat (again).
Adjusting the Goal
Here’s the thing: the push-ups and squats were getting… repetitive. And I started dreading them. Remember, the goal wasn’t fitness. So, I changed the rules slightly.
Now, each week, I would add either reps or a new exercise. This kept it interesting, and stopped me from getting burned out.
The Current State
So where am I now? Well, I’m still going. My morning routine now includes:
- 16 push-ups
- 8 squats
- 30 second plank
- Reading one page of a book
It’s not much, but it’s consistent. And that’s the whole point. I haven’t missed a day since that travel day.
What I Learned
A few takeaways from this experiment:
- Start ridiculously small: It’s easier to build on something than to start from zero.
- Make it automatic: Tie the habit to something you already do.
- Adjust as needed: Don’t be afraid to change the rules to keep it interesting.
- Forgive yourself (but reset): Missing a day isn’t the end of the world, just start over.
This “undertaker streak” thing isn’t about becoming a super athlete or a productivity guru. It’s about building the habit of showing up, even when you don’t feel like it. And that’s a skill that’s useful in just about everything.
