Today's Feature - From Arnold - YourMotivation Isn't a Lie

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You've probably restarted your fitness routine on a Monday more times than you can count. And maybe that makes you feel like you're stuck in a loop: always beginning, never following through. But that urge to start fresh at the top of the week? It's your brain doing exactly what the research says it should.

People are significantly more likely to pursue goals on Mondays and other "landmark" days, and that motivation is worth using, not fighting.

Researchers analyzed gym attendance data from nearly 12,000 people, goal-commitment sign-ups, and Google search trends for diet-related terms. Across every dataset, the same pattern held: Mondays, the first of the month, birthdays, and the start of new semesters all triggered spikes in goal-directed behavior. Mondays consistently had higher gym visits and new commitments than other weekdays.

The researchers believe these "temporal landmarks" work because they create a mental boundary between your past self and the version of you that's ready to try again. 

Monday feels like a clean page, and your brain treats it like one.

Now, the important part: this study measured starting, not sticking. And that distinction matters. 

A separate study involving over 61,000 gym members found that the single strongest predictor of long-term consistency wasn't a perfect streak. It was what happened after a missed workout. 

People who returned to the gym after missing a session logged 27% more visits over time than those who didn't get that nudge to come back.

So here's your framework: use Monday. That pull you feel is real, backed by data across millions of observations. Start the week with a workout (like the one below), a walk, a meal you feel good about — whatever moves the needle.

But when Wednesday falls apart (and it will), remember the rule that actually builds habits: never miss twice in a row. 

Your comeback matters more than your streak.

NON-PROFIT - About Warrior Hockey

USA Hockey’s Warrior Hockey Discipline is dedicated to injured and disabled U.S. military veterans who have served our country and play ice Hockey. As one of the Disabled Hockey Section's newest disciplines, Warrior Hockey is quickly growing across the country. While some participants played hockey before being injured, many tried it for the first time for therapeutic reasons.  

To be eligible to compete in the Warrior Hockey Discipline, participants must have a discharge under honorable conditions with the ability to provide official documentation from their designated branch of service. 

USA Hockey thanks the men and women of the armed forces for their service.

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