A requested post! I love it!
“How do I get motivated to run in the mornings?” That was the question posed to me. Let’s broaden it a bit, too: “How do I get motivated to workout, period?” You are snuggled into your nice, warm bed, and then that alarm goes off…an hour earlier than yesterday. Today, however, you are getting up that hour early to get in a workout before heading to the office…to start the day ‘right’…though it is so easy to just hit that snooze button for another hour… It is lunchtime, and you have a gym across the street from your office with a 30-minute Spin class beginning in ten minutes…That still leaves you twenty minutes to shower, change, and get out that protein shake…But it would be so easy just to go down to the cafeteria and hear the latest gossip… It’s the end of the work day. Gym or home? Hard decision when you are tired after a stressful schedule of meetings and memos… Yet what is one of the best stress-busters…? Challenges! Every day! So how do we prepare for these and conquer? Here are some simple ways to help the MOTIVATION FACTOR: - Schedule friend dates - Think of the consequences, both positive and negative (but really, focus on the positive, you’ll be better off because of it) -Go to the gym = Energy, Endorphins, Feeling proud, Bragging rights ( ;) ), Steps taken toward my goals, Calories burned, New weights lifted, Overall feeling = fantastic -Don’t go to the gym = Dragging the rest of the day, Regret, General feeling of meh -Pay for it -Sign up for a class where you will lose the money if you do not attend. I sure think that’s motivation! -Just get your feet on the floor -If you can convince yourself (in regards to morning workouts) to just do that, the rest will happen more easily. But don’t psyche yourself out thinking too far ahead- JUST do the first step. Just get your feet on the floor. -No hitting the snooze button -Studies caution that it would be better to sleep the extra 10, 15 minutes, rather than “doing that dance with the alarm clock” (WSJ). -Join a group -There are run clubs, bootcamps, and sports leagues all over this country. Join in! Suddenly, not only did you take the step in signing up, but you have a community of others who also have goals and motivations of their own. Accountability? Check. Something enjoyable and notthesameoldtreadmillworkout? Check. New to a city? You have found new friends. Heck, you might find a great networking opportunity to help your career….or even a husband/wife….Come on, you never know! -NYRR -Meetup -Zog Sports -So many, new groups every day across the country -Get a dog. Okay, maybe this one is because I just would really love to have a dog…BUT, if you have a dog, you automatically have a really good excuse to get outside….Not just excuse: obligation. That guy needs his walk! (And you get to breathe in some fresh air while you’re at it) Here’s to a motivated new day, Kate
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CHALLENGE:
For five days straight, do an additional something that may be beneficial to my well-being. I’m doing an experiment. Each week setting a new, small challenge, a dose of something potentially beneficial for my well-being, and each weekday doing this new challenge. Five days straight of whatever it is. Five days isn’t that long, it is just a dose to try out this challenge and see what happens...then if it is a step in a positive direction, those five days may become more….and perhaps inspire you, too! Watch for the update each Sunday, as well as what the next week’s challenge is going to be. Let me know if you have suggestions! Week One For this week, I made a commitment to go to workout right away upon waking each morning. Why? I workout daily, but sometimes I start working and let my day get away from me too much, then find I do just a quick workout later on, antsy all the while before it. When I get the workout in early, my mind and energies are more focused. When I let so much of the day pass before hitting the gym, I end up feeling scattered during work and frustrated that I did not begin the day with exercise to get that blood flowing and the endorphins going! The challenge for me lies in actually getting there right away. When I wake up, what my body wants to do is sit with coffee and open articles to read, not to jump around. I used to teach first thing in the morning, really early, and, as hard as it was to get up that early, it really did give me an amazing boost to start the day. I always left the workout feeling great. Now that I often have mornings working from home, it is tempting to wait to work out...but then I am not as focused, not as energized, AND have a tendency to snack much more… Five Days Later: So how does it feel after consistently working out first thing each morning? Confirmed, energy and focus better. Also, there is no stress about trying to fit in a workout at other times. The not-as-positive parts include an anxiety of ‘I have to’ make it there asap, and not getting as strong a workout because of my body still in a sleepy, tired mode. Recommendation? Totally get to the gym asap-- BUT, asap can mean slightly different things. I’d like to say, within the first hour or so of waking. I know this isn’t possible with every person’s schedule, of course. If your body needs the first cup of coffee to ease into the morning and you can spare that time or wake up a bit earlier to make it happen, do it. If you don’t have much morning time, I would definitely recommend JUST GETTING SOMETHING GOING. My body and brain feel so much better after a workout, and, for me, it is always better to get something in, be it a ‘big’ workout or ‘small’ one, first thing in the morning. Disclaimer: Some people have been working out at lunch or in the evenings for years and are happy with that schedule. If that works for you, keep that going! Each person is different, and there tend to be ‘morning workout-ers’ and ‘later on workout-ers’, to give the technical terms, obviously. I am in the former category, and need that boost early on to begin the day on the right foot. What it all comes down to? MOVING YOUR BODY DAILY. Whatever schedule works out for you :) NEXT WEEK: Challenge I am planning is to do a 10-min meditation every day. While this sounds easy to some, I’m sure, I have been avoiding trying this for years-- Why can I get lost in articles for 20 minutes, but the idea of closing everything for 10 sounds so hard? Exactly why I need this to be my next challenge. If anyone wants to try this with me, let me know! I am planning on using an app that has been recommended to me: Insight Timer. Have a fabulous week, Kate Sharing this today, and I have no idea where I happened upon it, so if someone sees this and says, ‘I know who created this list!”, please let me know so I give appropriate credit! We are just over a month into the new year. The last week of December, I went through this list and answered these questions for myself. This morning, I went back and reminded myself, a great help for focus, to re-read these goals and thoughts. If you have not done something similar for 2020, give it a try-- I found it helpful! Let me know if you do, too. ********** 1. What is one hope for 2020? 2. What do I want to stand for? 3. What are my core values and beliefs? 4. What am I most excited about in 2020? 5. What is the number one goal for my relationship with myself? 6. Number one goal for my romantic relationship? 7. Number one goal for my career? 8. Number one goal for health and well being? 9. What changes do I want to make in the rhythms of my life externally moving forward? 10. By the end of 2020, I will… Those who have less, Giving more. Short but powerful watch today: GIVE.
A playlist that keeps me going when running or at the gym!
I'll share more over the upcoming weeks! What are some of your favorite songs to attack the day with? I love recommendations! |
Be.
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