It’s finally here. I’ve been counting down the days, classes and assignments due. Spring break has finally arrived.
I spent all morning packing (probably way too much) for a five-day cruise that leaves Sunday. So I sat on my suitcase, which was bulging with my favorite bikinis and tank tops, zipped it up and hit the road.
But even though I was traveling, I was determined to get my daily workout in. When I woke up I put on gym clothes and sneakers. I knew I would be tired after driving home, but I figured if I already had exercise clothes on, I would be motivated to go on a run later.
But sure enough, when I got home I hugged my parents hello and headed straight for the couch. It was nap time. My excitement and motivation to go on a run was nonexistent. I tried to reason with myself. I kept thinking, “It’s spring break. I deserve a break, right? I’ve been working so hard these past few weeks.”
But no matter how much I tried to convince myself that it was OK to skip exercise for a day, I still felt guilty. I even felt like my dog, Murphy, who ironically just lies around all day, was staring me down saying, “You know you’re just being lazy. Go on a run.”
So that’s what I did. I put my running shoes back on and got off the couch. I thought it was going to be one of those days where I felt slow and lethargic. But I was wrong. I felt great. I even ran farther than I had originally planned. Although I was not in the mood, once I got going, I didn’t want to stop.
But we all have those days. It’s those days when all you want to do is sit on the couch and enjoy being lazy. It’s not a problem once in a while, but it becomes a problem when you get into a rut and want every day to be a lazy day.
Here is a tip that keeps me going:
Think about how you will feel after you exercise. Can you think of a time you regretted going to the gym or on a run? We all love feeling like a million bucks, and exercise gives us that feeling. I am very goal oriented. Try setting a goal. Do you want to run a half marathon? Do you want to do 30 consecutive push-ups? Write your goal in bold and in all caps on a post-it note, and put it where you know you will see it every day. It will keep you going.
Have any tips that keep you on the move? I would love to hear them!