Motivate Your Way Out The Door

After a fun filled and incredibly short weekend in Disneyland, I'm home! I arrived in Disneyland on Friday and flew home on Sunday evening - it was a whirlwind of a trip, but I had an incredible time and wouldn't trade a minute of it!

Since it was such a short trip with no time off work, I'm still trying to get my belongings and my life back in order. I'll be back this week with a recap of the Tinker Bell10K. In the mean time, here's a few tips from Jeff Galloway himself, all about motivation! (Don't we all need a little of that?!)

There is a point where every runner needs a little motivation to head out the door. Here is a proven strategy to get moving on the tough days. The method has also been helpful in dealing with other challenges.

Mentally Rehearse

The following is a mental exercise that you can do throughout the day to prepare for this situation, as you are sitting around at the end of the day, driving, or commuting home. Don't focus on the workout. Instead, break down the experience into a series of small steps which are easy to do. As you rehearse the sequence of these, over and over, you become more likely to follow the same pattern when you need to do so.

Prepare by putting on comfortable shoes and clothes, and having your exercise equipment handy. You're not thinking about exerting yourself - just getting out of work clothes and into clothes that are comfortable but could be used for your workout.

• Coffee? As you are dressing, brew some coffee, tea, or have a diet drink, etc. Caffeine (if you have no problems with it) will wake up the central nervous system, making exercise feel better.
• Eat a snack. Low blood sugar is the most common reason for low motivation in the afternoon. An easy-to-digest snack will raise the level so that you feel good and will reduce the negative messages received from the stress-monitoring part of the brain (the left brain).
• Weather? Just walk out the front door to see what the weather is like.
•  If you are using exercise equipment in a health club, check the availability and walk around until the user has finished his or her workout. 
• If outside, walk to the end of the block to get your bearings. Once you have walked 100 steps, you are almost certain to continue. If using a treadmill, commit to walking 100 steps, then commit to running 100 steps. 

Have a reward afterward, such as a snack, a beverage, or a massage - you earned it!

There is a principal of lazy physics here: "A body on the couch wants to stay on the couch. But once a body is in motion, it wants to stay in motion."

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Thanks so much, Jeff! A little motivation here and there is just what I need to kick the "I don't wannas" away.

Disclaimer: As a Jeff Galloway blogger, I receive occasional running/workout tips that I in turn share here. No compensation is received for this exchange, I simply enjoy sharing with you! :)