Are You Training for Life — Or Just Working Out? (Day 13)

I’ve been thinking about the difference between working out and training today.

It might sound like a small distinction, but to me, it represents two completely different mindsets — not just in the gym, but in life.

Working out is something you do to tick a box.

You show up, get a sweat on, feel good for an hour, and move on. There’s no long-term plan. No real structure. It’s reactive — based on how you feel that day.

Training, on the other hand, is intentional.

It’s part of a larger process. There’s a goal you’re working toward, a system you’re following, and feedback you’re paying attention to. Each session builds on the last, and even your rest days serve a purpose.

I’ve lived in this training mindset since I was a kid — and lately, I’ve been wondering how much this way of thinking applies to the rest of life too.

Training Has a Direction

Most people, when they move their body, are just trying to feel better.

And I get it — that’s a valid reason to exercise. But they don’t really know what they’re working toward. There’s no cycle, no progressive overload, no end-of-block test. Just effort for the sake of effort.

Training is different.

• There’s a target — a race, a PB, a comp, a peak week.

• There’s a plan — maybe 12 weeks long, maybe a full year.

Each session has a purpose. Each block has a theme. And each rep, even when it’s light or easy, is a step toward something.

That structure gives meaning to the hard days. Because you're not just getting through them, you're building toward something bigger.

I Learned This Early

Since the age of 11, I’ve always been training for something.

When I joined my local running club, I had competitions on the calendar within weeks. Every training session had a reason. I wasn’t just getting fit — I was preparing.

My dad coached me in those early years, and I still remember sitting down after each season, planning out the next one. Sometimes we were planning for races nine months away. That long-term thinking shaped everything — how we trained in winter, how we shifted gears in spring, how we aimed to peak in summer.

Even now, in powerlifting, I follow the same philosophy.

Most lifters use 12-week cycles, split into 4-week mesocycles. You start with volume and build intensity. You track your lifts. You deload. You peak. And at the end, you either hit your target or you don’t. But either way, you learn something.

That’s the beauty of training. It’s not just about the outcome. It’s about what you learn along the way — and how that informs your next training block.

You Don’t Need to Be an Athlete to Train Like One

This mindset bleeds into everything.

Are you training for your goals? For your creative work? For your personal growth? Or are you just clocking in hours, hoping it adds up to something?

That’s the question I’ve been asking myself today.

Because there’s a huge difference between deliberate practice and just doing reps. Between learning and just consuming. Between training and working out.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being intentional.

When I ask myself, “What am I training today?” — I want to have a clear answer.

Maybe I’m training my writing by focusing on structure. Maybe I’m training presence by slowing down or meditating. Maybe I’m training my strength to compete in a powerlifting event.

Whatever it is, I want it to mean something. I want it to be part of a longer arc.

Recovery Needs to be Built In

Even your rest should be strategic.

When athletes rest, it’s not random. It’s part of the program. It serves the recovery phase. They don’t feel guilty. They know it’s necessary. Compare that to someone who skips the gym just because they’re not feeling it. Same rest — completely different mindset.

The difference is in the intention: one is reactive and one is proactive

One is drifting, the other is directed.

And maybe that’s what I'm getting at here. To look at your life — and ask whether you're training or just showing up.

Whether your goals are guiding your days, or your days are just passing by.

Ask Yourself This One Question

"What are you training today?"

Not just in the gym, but in life.

Are you building strength, clarity, skill, patience, presence? Are you learning from feedback? Are you adapting your system to serve your goals?

Or are you just getting a sweat on?

You don’t have to be an athlete to train like one — but you do need a reason to show up.

If you don’t know what you’re working toward, you’re probably just getting a workout in. Which is fine, but it’s not where real growth happens.

Training brings clarify. It turns effort into progress. It connects today to something greater.

And that changes everything.

Adam