With all that we have going on in our lives, it’s easy to lose focus and get distracted. It can be our children, our jobs, or a big sink of dirty dishes. David Lyons has given us the tools to perform workouts specific to our disease, but as with anything, we can lose focus and intention during a workout.

I have been guilty of this. During a workout or challenge, it can be easy to lose focus and let the everyday creep in. What am I going to make for dinner? Did I put that load of wash in the dryer? What did my boss want me to do at work? Or just talking about my day instead of focusing on what I’m doing in the moment.

What to do?

Focus on one fixed spot in the room. It can be anything within your range of sight; a screw in the drywall, a picture of you and your spouse, a door handle. Everytime you do a rep, look at that spot.

Focus. Breathe. Push yourself. Think of the muscle. Whether it be sit to stands, planks, or biceps — focus. Keep your intention in the movement.

Stop talking, turn off any ambient background noise like the television or the radio. I know it is sometimes nice to listen to the radio, or watch your favourite program while you workout. However, David has taught us we need to turn it all off, and focus on the muscle movement we are doing. Tell your spouse and children you are working out, and to give you that time.

Even our pets can mistake getting on the floor to do those planks as playtime, but we have to get rid of any distractions and think, so that might mean closing the door so we’re alone. Even I have been guilty of this. My Murf can be a cute distraction, but he’s a distraction nonetheless.

Target that muscle, think of your brain telling that muscle to move, even if it doesn’t want to. David taught us that. Don’t assist your muscle by physically moving it. Think your intention. Think of that muscle working. Sometimes it may seem futile, but with every think you do, it strengthens that connection.

That is how we create the brain to muscle activation, and we begin to re-build new neuropathways or strengthen our existing ones.

Distraction is the enemy of Intention. Don’t let your intention lose focus.