The Nature of Trying

[livingdeb]

When I first got a pedometer, I was averaging between 6,000 and 7,000 steps a day. That compares unfavorably to the 10,000 steps often recommended for good fitness and the 15,000 sometimes recommended for weight loss.

Then I started trying to walk more, namely at least 10,000 steps per day. The result of this trying led to my averaging between 6,000 and 7,000 steps a day. The only real change I made was to pace rather than stand while waiting for buses.

Later I decided to try walking 15,000 steps per day. I also did not achieve this goal, but as a result of having it, I did bring my actual average to about 10,000 steps. The additional changes I made were to walk during lunch and to get off the bus early and walk extra distance to get home.

Lately I've been trying to walk less in case my ankles need to be resting so they can heal. I am still walking 5,000 steps a day on weekdays. On the weekends I generally walk much less (as before), so this brings my average closer to 4,000.

Still, it feels like the actual changes in my behavior, while sometimes significant, are much less related to my feeling like I'm "trying" than I would like. I suspect that sometimes when I think I'm trying something, I'm not really trying any such thing. I am instead monitoring my progress. I am instead taking more interest in my status. This is a fine first step, but it feels a lot more like hoping than like trying.

I wonder how many things that I think I am trying to do are things that I am actually doing nothing at all towards accomplishing.

Related entry - Exercise and Self-Efficacy at Alethiography - This is about the hypothesis that by trying things at which success is likely and visible, you then become better at succeeding when you try harder things. (Yes, I have mangled that hypothesis to show how I could think it is related to my entry.) "Self-efficacy is the belief that you can succeed at something through effort. I believe I could get a PhD in mathematics if I tried hard enough, but I don't believe I could ever be good at basketball - I have high self-efficacy in one area and low self-efficacy in the other (regardless of whether I'm correct in my judgments). But what I'm more interested in is self-efficacy in general - to what extent do I believe my results are influenced by my efforts, versus by factors beyond my control?"

Comments

Heh

[tamaraster.livejournal.com]

It's funny (and cool) that you linked to me, because the whole time I was reading this, I was thinking hey, that's related to my post!