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Sometimes motivation isn’t enough

Posted on September 21, 2011 at 02:19 PM

Last week, I mentioned my misty morning motivation. Unfortunately that’s often not enough, and sometimes I need to look further afield. Luckily, I have a few techniques to choose from.

Sometimes, pure, simple routine will do the trick. If I just roll out of bed when the alarm goes off, stumble into my walking gear and stagger out the door – all before I’m awake enough to consider other options? That makes walking easy.

Other times, I make deals with myself: if I just get 6k in now, I can stop into Starbucks for a peppermint mocha. Or I reframe: it’s not “walking”, it’s a chance to listen to some of the awesome podcasts I’ve just downloaded. Or I remind myself how this walk, today, contributes to my greater long-term goals.

Some days, though, nothing’s enough. Take last Friday. The weather was shocking – intermittent rain and hail all day. I was sniffling and fighting off a cold. My brain yelled “DO. NOT. WANT!” emphatically every time I so much as thought about heading out the door.

So you know what I did? I listened.

I reminded myself that it’s what I do most of the time that’s important. Some days, I need a break far more than I need to exercise. So I gave myself one. And instead of walking, I ran a hot aromatherapy bath and soaked in it for two solid hours. BLISS!

And you know what? Today, my motivation is back with a vengeance. As soon as I’m finished this post, I’m heading out the door for a 12k. With some of my podcasts, even.

So what about you, lovely Wonder Walkers?

• Let’s say you have a day when motivation isn’t enough and you need a break. What do you do instead?