Why can’t I stay motivated?

Where to start? Now this is something I really wish there was a magic pill for. To be honest though I think we all look at motivation as some sort of necessity to get things done when this isn’t how it should be. Because let’s face it, motivation is effected by so much, whether it’s raining outside, you’ve had an argument with your other half, or even the fact it’s Saturday, and who cares about exercising or getting anything productive done, when you don’t have work the same day. Sounds strange when you write it out like that doesn’t it. It’s so fleeting in fact, that the person who sets their alarm for 6.00am to go for a run will happily hit the snooze button just 8 hours after making the decision that they’re going get up and be productive in a morning. Well this is a classic case of making a decision in perfect circumstances and as soon as there’s some obstacle (in this case, tiredness) we change our minds. This is the case for anyone trying to start a new habit, whether it be an exercise routine, give up smoking or just eating better, external stresses can instantly throw all our motivation out the window and force us back into our old ways.

I’ve dealt with some circumstances in my own life where I’ve had to stay on task for extended periods of time, and it had a domino effect. Although you could argue my main motivation was having to stand on a stage in front of hundreds of people wearing an obscenely small pair of pants, this wasn’t forced, and was a personal choice. And the reward isn’t all that good either, although I’m proud to have my 1st place Mr Newcastle trophy, pride and place in my gym, the level of suffering I went through doesn’t really seem worth it! Although it does make me want to bring it up every chance I get (I worked hard, let me brag about it a bit). The trophy, or getting to tell everyone what I went through, isn’t my greatest reward though, I found the secret to following through on the promises I made myself, and if I knew this was the end prize, would have kept me going far more than any external gratification, I learned the importance of habit and routine. I didn’t try hard in school, college or university. I didn’t put much effort in at work and was quite happy to just keep showing up to get the same money week in week out and just live for the weekend, but when I went to support a friend in a local bodybuilding show, seeing all those men and women on the stage looking like Greek gods, it sparked something inside me. And the changes that was triggered that day has affected every aspect of my life. It made me want to be better. This is a feeling that many of you may get from time to time. Whether you’ve looked in the mirror and hated what you’ve seen, took your kids to the park and struggled to even run around with them, or watched the London marathon on TV and watched the thousands of dedicated individuals do something you think you could only dream of doing. It makes you want to be better. Well this is the best kick up the arse you can hope for. This is where motivation is at its most useful, go out and buy the clothes, download the running apps, buy a smart watch, sign up to the website (especially the last one), most of all, make a commitment! But just know this same feeling won’t stay with you throughout your journey. This initial buzz can fade just as quickly as it came along, just as I touched on in the opening paragraph.

Here we start to use routine as our biggest ally. Think about routine like this, most people get up and go to work almost every single day, even if you feel a little bit ill, even if it’s raining, even if you’ve had a disagreement with your partner, because how stupid would you feel ringing your boss and saying “I’m not coming into work today, I’ve cut my toenails too short” or “my soon to be ex-wife is throwing my clothes out of the bedroom window”. Ok maybe they are a bit far-fetched, and work might pay you money which you need to pay your mortgage and put food on your table, but eating well and exercising is what’s going to allow you to enjoy your life more, and live longer. Ask yourself, what’s the worst excuse you’ve come up with to not exercise? And is your excuse that good you can’t turn your computer on for 45 minutes of your day and jump around in your living room? I don’t want to hear you don’t have enough time in the day either, there’s 168 hours in the week, you sleep 56 and you work 40, what are you doing with the other 72 hours? Are you actually saying you can’t put 3 of them hours aside a week to improve your own health, or is that new TV series you started watching just far too good? Start making exercise a habit!

You started exercising for a reason, remind yourself, what that reason is. Put post it notes on your mirror, make it your screen saver on your phone, put yourself back in that situation that made you want to better yourself in the first place. I’m not saying you have to kill yourself every single time, but at least show up, and KEEP showing up. Just get to the start line, and do your best. I guarantee you, you’ll feel 1000X better, no one ever regretted a workout, so make it a habit! The same principles apply for diet. If you’re really craving a pizza or something you shouldn’t be eating, ask yourself, is the anticipation of eating it better than the actual taste? It certainly is for me, I look forward to a ‘cheat’ meal so much, and I might really love that first slice, but are you getting that same level of satisfaction when you’re finishing the last piece? I don’t think so. To paraphrase the great Kate Moss “nothing taste as good as achieving a goal you set yourself feels”.

So set yourself a routine, make a commitment, shout it from the roof tops, make yourself accountable and MAKE IT A HABIT. Tell all your friends and family what you are going to do, and get them to help you. Whilst keeping that in mind, let’s all help each other, as funny as it might seem at the time to see your friend fail at their diet again, tempting them away from a healthier lifestyle just so you have someone to drink with at the weekend isn’t cool. They had that ‘want to be better’ moment as well, be a person who raises their friend up, not who drags them down to your level just because you failed at your diet as well. Let’s do this together, after all, a rising tide should lift all boats.

Finally, and the most annoying part, is that time and time again I see “I’m not training this week, I just don’t have the motivation”, WHAT!!! Excuse my language but F@#K motivation, and your excuses. Have you heard yourself? “I’ve lost all motivation” is a weak excuse, and you need some tough love. Get out of bed, or off the sofa, or off the toilet (it’s where I do all my reading), and start now. None of this ‘Monday’ or ‘start again next week’ Bullsh#t, that person who you look at and wish you could be as fit as or as skinny as or whatever it might be, is putting the work in, and your falling further behind. Be the person people look at for motivation, and start now.

Aaron

P.S. Don’t be a little bitch, if you’re tired, workout tired.