Mustering the Motivation
Oy vey. I struggle with motivation. I really do.
My goal is to run (well, jog pretty slowly) four times a week for about 35 minutes. I need to do this because a) it helps keep my weight in check b) my dog needs to release his energy and c) exercise is good for the soul (and hormone levels and general health and wellness).
On the other three days, my goal is to do 15 minutes of yoga.
It's an ambitious--yet entirely feasible--goal. I run on Saturday and Sunday mornings (which I actually love) and then on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. It's the weekdays that are the hardest for me. I have a gagillion excuses. It's too cold. It's too wet. I have a headache. I'm tired. I'm hungry. I have too much work to do. [insert a plethora of other excuses...]
I've tried giving myself stickers every time I run, but that incentive doesn't work. When it comes down to it, I simply have to establish a routine and stick to it. It also helps if I do it first thing when I get home. No snack. No e-mail. Just exercise. And then relax.
As we inch closer and closer to vacation, my motivation is slipping even more. I really couldn't bring myself to run yesterday. And then, by some miracle, I just did it. I looked at my sad dog's eyes. I got changed and went out. (For the record, I chanted, "I hate this. I hate this." for the first 1/8-mile of my run, but I did it.)
Phew!
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3 comments:
i'm actually really impressed that you have a goal of running 4x a week. my dog could probably use that, but my boyfriend and i don't like running. and there's no way i will do it now that it's freezing cold winter.
@ Julia: Living in Houston helps (although we did get a full day of snow a few weeks ago!).
I know exactly how you feel! I'm running a half marathon in January, and hauling my butt out of bed at 6 a.m. when it's bitter cold and dark out sucks, hard core. Someone told me once that you'll always regret skipping a run, but you will never regret running, so that really helps motivate me. And I feel so amazing afterwards. Sometimes, you have to shut off your brain and just do it! And I'm sure Hoss loves you forever for those runs :)
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