Lace Up Your Sportswear to Impact Your Fitness Routine: Lessons From “The Simpsons”
Are you struggling to get motivated to work out? Have you ever considered that the clothing you wear could be affecting your fitness routine? It may sound like a strange concept, but researchers from Northwestern University found evidence to support this idea in an unexpected place – “The Simpsons.”
In an episode called “Team Homer,” Springfield Elementary School introduces a new, drab grey uniform after Bart’s “Down With Homework” tee causes an uproar. The students become listless and apathetic until a rainstorm washes off the dye, revealing the true colour of the t-shirts: tie-dye. The students riot with joy, all because of their clothes.
This episode inspired researchers Hajo Adam and Adam Galinsky to explore the connection between our clothing and our behaviour. They coined the term “enclothed cognition” to describe the mental changes we undergo when we wear certain clothing. In a 2012 study, volunteers were either given a lab coat or nothing special to wear and then performed attention-related tasks. Those wearing lab coats proved significantly more successful.
But how does this apply to fitness? Stuart Martin, MD of the well-being charity Active Nation, believes that these results can be applied to fitness. “I think it would make sense that when you lace up any item of sports clothing, you become more active and more likely to work out anywhere – at the gym, home, swimming pool, or outdoors,” he says.
This concept is something that Active Nation believes in, and their supporters have reported that when they wear their trainers at home, they are more likely to do an Active Nation Anywhere, on demand workout. Wearing activewear has become more socially acceptable and even encouraged, as it can help shift our mindset from sitting to moving.
So the next time you’re struggling to get motivated for a workout, consider what you’re wearing. Your clothing may have a more significant impact on your behaviour than you realise. And who knows, maybe you’ll find inspiration in an unexpected place, just like Adam and Galinsky did with “The Simpsons.”
The Active Nation’s “Lace Up” campaign motivates individuals to be more active by simply putting on their trainers. Whether it’s walking more, engaging in household chores more actively, or being gym-ready after a school run, the campaign encourages small, incremental changes that can have a significant impact on overall health and well-being. So, take that first step towards a healthier lifestyle and lace up your trainers with the Lace Up campaign.
Here’s your lace up incentive https://activenation.org.uk/laceup/
