What Do You Do When You Just Aren’t Motivated?

His Hand
Creative Commons License photo credit: h.koppdelaney

The last couple days have been hectic, both physically and emotionally. My kiddo’s having some problems at school (yes, she’s only in preschool. lol), and a lot of stuff has been going on. The wind is blowing, the clouds are out, the sun’s not shining, my bike shoes haven’t gotten here yet, I’m tired, there’s a ginormous bag of dog food in my trunk.

You see??? I have plenty of excuses that are keeping me from getting on my bike!

So what do you do when you just aren’t motivated?

I keep telling myself ~ Walnut Valley is NEXT weekend!!! Come on. Get your ass on your bike! And yet, my aforementioned ass still sits in my computer chair, working, tweeting, facebooking (is that even a word?), and my bike sits outside collecting dust.

The thing is ~ I WANT to ride. I do.

I just can’t find the momentum to move into action.

Yesterday I made some peace with Hanna’s issues, and came to a bit of a solution for that which brought me some relief. I also heard a kickin song which I immediately thought would be super fun to bike to. I also got some new clients in the last day or two which brought my energy level up.

It appears when my emotional energy level is low ~ my “gotta get on my bike and ride” energy level is low too.

Which would logically lead me to believe if I can get my emotional energy level higher (like it’s getting today), my wanna ride level would also increase.

So … maybe instead of beating myself up for not getting out and riding I might want to focus on some kick ass ways to inflate my emotional energy level. :) Now this… I know how to do.

  • Listen to my “happy” music. You know the kind that makes you dance and sing and feel great.
  • Read a book that makes me feel GOOD.
  • Choose to be fascinated by things instead of frustrated.
  • Make a list of 50 things I am glad about ~ ie. Play the Polyanna game (we just bought the movie, ah I love that!!)
  • Take some deep breaths.
  • Be a STAR ~ Stop. Take a deep breathe. And. Remember I have a choice!
  • Bake something yummy so the house smells delicious.
  • Color a beautiful picture with my daughter.
  • Talk to a friend.
  • Watch a funny movie ~ Happy Gilmore usually works for me!
  • Do some yoga ~ maybe kids yoga with Hanna :)

hmmm… I’m feeling better already, maybe the last one should be

  • Write a blog post about all the ways you can feel better lol.

OK! I’m motivated. I’m gonna get the dog food out of the trunk, put the bike trailer in, and go to town and ride on the smooth smooth track at the park; after I download that great song to ride to. :)

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Comments

  1. Natalie C says:
    September 18, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    Lately, I’ve realized I have to cut myself off & not let my brain do what it wants to do, which is rationalize & find excuses to not workout. I start to get thoughts like that and it’s like “DON’T EVEN START WITH ME!!” And then just go on auto pilot, so FORCING myself to do what is in the schedule even if my brain is yelling, “There is absolutely no point in going to the gym… blah blah blah…” Nope. It’s in the schedule, therefore I am going…. like a little robot. Then when I am done working out, often the cobwebs have been shaken up & my brain behaves better. :)

  2. Jackie says:
    September 18, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    Oh Natalie!

    I like that idea ~ it would of course mean that I had workouts actually scheduled LOL. Maybe I’ll try that next week. :D

  3. Tee says:
    September 18, 2009 at 5:03 pm

    Like Natalie, there are days when I know the only way to find my motivation is to get on my bicycle and go looking for it. And wouldn’t ya know it, it’s almost always right outside the door to my apartment building. It must have fallen out of the holes in my bicycle basket as I was bringing my bike into my flat. I have no other place to park it, my folding bike, and my Trikke, so I have a LBS instead of a dining room…lol.

    There are times when I have to ride a few miles before I realize my motivation was merely hiding in my back pocket and now that I’m on the bike, it takes the reins. Still other times, I leave it the stubborn thing at home and go anyway. And, of course, there are instances when I know that nothing I can do will get me on my bike. I don’t beat myself up…I simply wait for the next moment and try again. And if the whole day goes by without me making it out the door, I accept it with the knowledge that I’ll try again tomorrow.

    Usually, however, I employ the first trick of going in search of it and finding it, even if I have to nap first. ;)

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