Winter hit hard around here. It was cold this past weekend. I kind of wanted to stay under a blanket all snuggled up and actually did quite a bit of that.
However, I know this is the time of year I have to fight through the urge to go into hard core hibernation mode. If I refuse to go outside because it’s cold, I get tired and depressed. I feel less and less motivated to do much of anything the longer I focus on how much I hate being cold.
What To Do When Motivation Takes a Vacation.
Just because I know motivation is over-rated it doesn’t mean it’s always easy to keep going when motivation starts to dwindle. Sure, going for a daily walk is a habit of mine, but when it gets cold I’m the first to convince myself it’s not a must-do. It’s a lot easier to push it off until “later” – aka never – when it’s not 75 and sunny anymore.
One way to up your motivation and get momentum rolling is to start with something as simple as doing a boring chore. Most of the time, doing something productive, no matter how small, gets the momentum going. Checking one thing off the list makes you want to check another off, doesn’t it?
Before you know it, taking the trash out and wiping the counters down leads to you getting outside for a walk, going to the gym, meeting a friend for dinner…whatever it is.
With the holiday season coming right at us, it’s a prime time of year to put off anything that’s not a must-do in our minds. We’re all busier than normal and our routines are all thrown out of whack more often than usual. Here’s my advice. Borrow this approach from the ladies over at Healthy Habits Happy Moms… it’s not all or nothing. It’s all or SOMETHING. Just start and see what happens.
Look at one day and one week at a time. For example this week is the last full week before Thanksgiving. You’re probably stressed about next week a bit. Whether you’re stressed about the food, family or lack of routine, it can be tempting to throw in the towel on everything healthy about your routine this week too just because next week will be whacky.
Be Proactive Instead of Reactive.
Instead, tackle this week head-on. Be proactive instead of reactive. Here’s one example. Make a plan for movement/exercise. What’s your goal this week? Be specific and realistic. Something is absolutely better than nothing 99% of the time. Waiting to get started on some “perfect” workout plan after Thanksgiving weekend is not the answer. Just start now. Do what you can with what you have.
Here are a few ideas:
- I’ll get to the gym on X, X and X at THESE TIMES.
I’ll get at least 8,000 steps every single day this week no matter what. - I’ll get up for 5 minutes every 90 minutes during my workday, no exceptions.
Make a commitment. Stick to it. Stay focused.
Stay Focused on Your Goals {and Maintain Your Sanity} This Winter.
It’s TWO THINGS TUESDAY and I’m sharing a few posts to help you stay motivated this winter. That’s right, you can keep going this winter instead of sinking into hibernation mode or full-on party mode {eat all the things, drink all the beverages, deal with it later}. Don’t forget, if you’ve been reading something you think I’d love and should share it here, please let me know!
1. How to beat the winter blahs and keep moving consistently. I wrote this blog when I was pregnant with Drew, but it wasn’t public knowledge yet. Let’s just say I needed to write it out and take my own advice. First trimester exhaustion is for REAL. 😉
2. Embrace the Seasons of Life. A more recent post from a few months ago. Remember no season lasts forever. Buckle up and enjoy! Look for the good. And just keep going. You’ll be glad you did.
PS – You need to watch this if you have not seen it. I may have been almost crying I was laughing so hard.
Have a great week!
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