Even the most committed among us can feel demotivated at times to do what we need to do. Running feels long and boring, weights feel heavier than usual, your muscles don’t seem to want to stretch and your mind is someplace else. As surprised as you may be, this is a common recurring feeling among fitness enthusiasts. While working hard and pushing through will work a couple of times, when done too often, it will only result in unnecessary issues and injuries.
Here are some atypical methods to beat the exercise flu.
Drop the training plan for the day and do something that excites you at that moment. This could be swimming or randomly doing some bodyweight movements or trying out equipment whose use you’ve always wondered or even just going for a walk. The important thing is that you take the time to think about what you (your body) feel like doing. This is called listening to your body and is a very important part of long term fitness.
Be instructed . Either go to a class or hire a personal trainer but do what you’re told. Some days we experience what is known as ‘decision fatigue’ from the sheer volume of decisions we make on a daily basis. Which shirt should you wear, what should the kids take for lunch, can the deadline for this project be extended, which route should you take to work, are all small questions but questions that force you to cough up an answer. Though you may not realise it, each of these decisions is making you (mentally) tired and eventually, you reach a level of visible decision fatigue. This lasts for the rest of your day and prevents efficient thinking, and hence, effective actions. So find a workout that requires almost no thinking and go for it. You’ll find it a lot easier to get through the workout and will also end up feeling refreshed after.
Do something you normally won’t do . We all do things we like and like things we do. And no, this is not a coincidence. On days when you don’t feel as motivated, try and do an activity you wouldn’t normally do. For example, if you’re a runner, today would be a good day to try out some yoga or strength training. This will do the opposite of what the previous option does and force you to think about how you feel. Since you are in unfamiliar territory you will be a lot more alert and focussed.
Do nothing . If you are sure you are having a bad day and don’t find it in you to do anything active, chill out and take the day off. You probably are too fatigued or are over-trained or are coming down with something and the weakness and demotivation are your body’s way of asking you to slow down. When in doubt, do nothing.
Keep in mind that bad days are a part of living and there is no way to never have a bad day. The smart thing to do is to acknowledge such bad days and not let them affect you more than they should.
