I do the same exercises everyday, and if I miss a single day, it usually feels much harder to get back into it. Why is this?
In: Biology
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It should be easier by all rights. The break allows for recovery. Many body builders will work out different muscle groups on different days to allow recovery. After running nearly 20 miles per day for 90 days in preparation for the marathon, it’s common to taper off to nothing for the last few days and eat heavy carbohydrates. This results in the best race performance for most people.
Human nature. Psychologists call it the “what the hell effect.” Where if you’re motivating yourself to do something, then slip up once, it becomes far easier to justify doing it again. You basically show your brain “well, once diddnt hurt, so twice won’t either.” Even if you conciously know that’s untrue.
Our brains are not especially health conscious in the long term. It would quite happily allow you to relax and do nothing, because you’re expending less energy. It doesn’t take into account the long term effects because your subconscious brain is mostly focussed on the present.
Same happens with people dieting and quitting smoking. If you have one cake/cigarette, people tend to justify to themselves they have already ruined their progress, and give up. It’s a matter of willpower to push yourself not to see it that way, or to not slip in the first place.
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