morningstar
Cathlete
Hi everyone,
Recently, some thoughts have coalesced in my head with regard to motivation. What I find is that motivation is not enough to get me out the door on cold winter mornings. In fact, when I am most motivated for my next workout, is usually the day before, when I am just thinking about the workout I want to do the next day. In the cold grey morning with less than great sleep, that motivation is burned away before I get the first cup of coffee down.
So, here’s what I do: I use that period of time when I am most motivated, the day before, to systematically visualize the workout to come. I imagine everything in detail, from getting up, to what clothes I will wear, putting on my clothes, to the playlist I want to listen to, the type of run of workout I want to do, etc. The more difficult the conditions will be, the more I plan and work out ways around obstacles. I am literally programming my brain that this is what I am going to do in the morning.
Then I actually physically do things to get ready: I might build a new strength workout that I want to do the next day, or build a special playlist just for that workout, I put out the clothes I am going to wear, I set the alarm, etc.
So now I’ve set the stage for a successful workout: I’ve programmed my brain, I’m physically prepared and motivation is much less of a necessary factor for getting me out the door.
For those of you struggling with motivation, I thought this might help.
Recently, some thoughts have coalesced in my head with regard to motivation. What I find is that motivation is not enough to get me out the door on cold winter mornings. In fact, when I am most motivated for my next workout, is usually the day before, when I am just thinking about the workout I want to do the next day. In the cold grey morning with less than great sleep, that motivation is burned away before I get the first cup of coffee down.
So, here’s what I do: I use that period of time when I am most motivated, the day before, to systematically visualize the workout to come. I imagine everything in detail, from getting up, to what clothes I will wear, putting on my clothes, to the playlist I want to listen to, the type of run of workout I want to do, etc. The more difficult the conditions will be, the more I plan and work out ways around obstacles. I am literally programming my brain that this is what I am going to do in the morning.
Then I actually physically do things to get ready: I might build a new strength workout that I want to do the next day, or build a special playlist just for that workout, I put out the clothes I am going to wear, I set the alarm, etc.
So now I’ve set the stage for a successful workout: I’ve programmed my brain, I’m physically prepared and motivation is much less of a necessary factor for getting me out the door.
For those of you struggling with motivation, I thought this might help.
