Don’t Get Discouraged

All week my workouts have felt flat. Which has been particularly discouraging because my last four week block was one of my favorites in recent memory. It’s also discouraging because for the first time in a long time I took a full week off of programmed training last week, thinking I would fly into this new block with massive amounts of energy and enthusiasm to put a new 4 week program together. But, it just hasn’t been the case.

In truth, out of 4 strength sessions this week, I’ve been motivated to do 0 of them. Yes, none of them. But, regardless of that feeling, I’ve pushed through each one of them (albeit lethargically).

At the end of each one I’ve been so happy to be done and move on with my day. But in 0 out of 4 workouts did I regret doing them. I’m hoping next week will be better, but if it’s not, I’ll just limp through like I did this week.

What’s the point?

I know that the only thing that matters is staying consistent. That the intensity or duration of my workout doesn’t matter nearly as much as just showing up every day and putting in some effort. I know that even if I choose lighter weights this week, I can always choose heavier ones next week. But that by at least picking up lighter weights, I’ll be setting myself for heavier ones later.

The point is that you don’t have to like and be into every workout you do. You don’t have to wake up every day looking forward to exercising. I’m someone who has been exercising consistently for over 20 years. When I’m fully rested and fully of energy I LOVE TO EXERCISE. But, I can count many more days of not wanting to train, then I can count the number of days I have wanted to train.

But that’s the game. You don’t have to like it, but you have to do it, because doing it will reward you.

The point is, don’t be discouraged if you don’t want to workout today, or you had a shitty workout today. Just know that there are millions of other people out there, including myself, going through the same daily struggle. But we all have to put in the work.

The thing you don’t want to do is the thing you need

Part of my lack of motivation this week has been fatigue. I knew it was but I was unwilling to address it. Instead I chose again and again to just work through it. Creating more fatigue.

The thing I knew I needed was a float. For the last few months I’ve been getting into the float tank (also called a sensory deprivation tank) once per month. I even bought a membership that paid for the monthly session to ensure I went.

But this month it felt like one thing after the other, and I kept procrastinating making an appointment. I finally made one but a dog emergency (he’s okay) forced me to cancel it (or did I use the dog emergency as an excuse to procrastinate again?).

Today I finally went and did a 60 minute float. It was at a different place 20 minutes closer to my house (the 30 minute drive to the place where I hold my membership is one of the reasons for my procrastination). And all I could think during my float was “god I needed this.”

I don’t create time in my life to rest. And I’m sure you don’t either. Even what we consider “rest” is often anything but. Watching TV is not rest. Scrolling your phone (even if alone) is not rest. Even reading is not rest. Sleeping is rest, but how often do you get the quality and quantity of sleep you need? Probably not often.

The sensory deprivation tank is my once monthly forced rest. No lights. No sounds. No phones. No distractions. Zero gravity so my body gets to unwind as much as my mind.

I knew I needed it, but I kept putting it off. Every time I’d hit my workout and drag my ass through it this week I’d say to myself “you need a reset.” But I continued to fight it, convinced I’d be able to overcome it.

I don’t know what it is about humans that causes us to dismiss the things our mind and body tells us we need. In the War of Art, Steven Pressfield calls it The Resistance. That feeling of doubt, the internal naysayer, that dismissive voice that convinces you not to do what you want.

It happens in creative endeavors. It’s happens when thinking about leaving your job for a better opportunity. Or starting a business. Or taking some time to rest. We convince ourselves we don’t need it. When in fact it’s the exact thing we need.

That’s why I’ve created a saying for myself. “Sometimes the thing you don’t want to do is the thing you need.”

It doesn’t always work right away (as evidenced by my 3 week delay getting to a float), but the more I repeat it, the more likely I am to get what I need.