What To Do When The Motivation “No Dey”
Ways to Overcome Lack of Motivation for Exercise:
So it is week 2 of 100 days of wellness for me … if I am really counting, it is still week 1 because I had to pause due to a brief fever.
We are busy people with busy lives and a lot of demands on our time. Sometimes losing that 1 extra hour of sleep for yoga feels so hard to sacrifice. And if you know me, I am always bragging to my friends about how comfy my bed is. ( No literally, i’ve have made my friends hang out in my bed because of how soft and comforting it is).
So truth be told, motivation to yoga everyday, meditate everyday, and journal everyday can get a little...lost. But, this is what happens in life when you “resolve to commit” you have to be grown up about it and stick with it, because you have a website now and what not and you told everybody in ear shot that you would. Being a grown up is hard. I figured, if I was having trouble staying on track only the second week in, then many of you probably have the same struggle staying on with consistency and focus. So what do we do when the motivation no dey?
Well, we make modifications that still help us stay on goal but shift the goalpost a little closer to what we find achievable. For instance, if 30 mins of yoga feels tasking, then do 15 minutes. Break the sessions into 2 and do one 15 minute block in the morning and another in the evening. If journaling everyday feels hard or boring, then think of another format less time and mind consuming- no one ever said a journal has to be “written.” Do a video journal, or a voice note to yourself, It is much easier to speak at times than it is to get a quiet moment to write. If running everyday feels offensive to your soul, maybe try and walk your route, Walking works different muscle groups and is still great exercise. And if losing that extra hour of sleep in the am is difficult, set a timer for another time of day that you find easier to commit to. Also, if it is at all possible, try not to go it alone. I go to a boxing gym twice a week and honestly, the only way I am able to be somewhat consistent is that my brother picks me up in the morning. This is a case where sibling rivalry helps us because we get competitive and end up positively pushing each other to work hard every session.
If none if these work, then send me an email! I’ll motivate you!
Finally, do not overthink it! Nothing kills a buzz more than over-analysis. At best you’ll end up just not doing anything,
at worst you’ll end up confused and possibly even depressed that you did nothing, making it harder to stay motivated
and just creating a whole negative feedback loop of demotivation, overthinking and depression- and you still wouldn't
have achieved your goals. Take these 100 days one day at a time as the adage goes “ a journey of a thousand miles
begins with ONE step. “ We can only do one thing at a time, so trust in your abilities and trust that you are worthy.