Before my foray into the world of Crossfit, my workout routine consisted of the latest barbell routines found in Men’s Health at my local New York Sports Club.

On the days where I was feeling a little bit “tired” (more often than not), I’d run the hamster wheel of choice, the elliptical, while watching the latest episode of the Biggest Loser playing on the wall of televisions at every local global gym.

Which is why the 5 days a week schedule of my Crossfit classes are a constant struggle to complete. There is no self appointed routine. It is a constantly changing series of Workouts of the day where everyone participates. This is the definition of testing your comfort zone. 

And I hate it. I hate it because I know it is good for me.

Despite what I feel is a strong level of motivation, when I read the workouts of the day that are posted on our schools website every morning, I cringe.

Fridays are the worst of them all, as my final class of the week are Saturday mornings. 8am. So I’m already questioning setting my alarm or sleeping in.

It is easy for me to decide if I should skip my Crossfit class laying in my bed. So I decided that I would only allow myself to make this decision if I walked to the corner of my street in full gym gear. Only then am I allowed to say, “Yes, I am staying home today.”

I call this The Point of No Return.

Which isn’t really true. I can return once I reach the corner. But somehow being in complete gym gear: contacts in, backpack, dri-fit clothes, walking to my corner is like turning into the freeway. You’re going to have to keep going for a while before you can turn around.

Each time I make it a goal to just walk to the corner, I always seem to walk a little further than I wanted. Now, my point of no return has reached the front of the gym, which is about 5 blocks from my apartment. 

Woody Allen once said “80% of success is just showing up.”

If you want to talk about walk of shame, I don’t ever want to experience the feeling of seeing one of my coaches watch me turn around and head back home.

For those finding it difficult to be consistent with something, whether it is writing, going to the gym or just reading more books, I suggest you find a place outside of your house you consider a point of no return, bring all your tools as if you were going to work and make it your goal to just show up. Only then you can make the decision to turn around and go home.

You’d be surprised how often you stay and get shit done.