Motivation is overrated.

I went home this past weekend to visit my folks. I really do love my parents - but I really don't love being back in my hometown, following a routine that isn't mine. It also isn’t the easiest place to care for your body. In our town, if you're seen riding your bike, everyone just assumes you must have gotten a DUI. So, there's that...

 At one point during my stay, I was out on the deck with my dad, early Sunday morning, and we were reminiscing about my younger days, all the sports I played (most of which he helped to coach), and how my experience with fitness had changed after an injury squashed any hope of a softball scholarship.

 Dad: "I can understand the motivation that comes with wanting your team to win, hoping to get a hit, or strike out a batter - but how do you stay motivated in the gym? It's just you and the weights."

Me: "I don't."

(Long pause, as he waited for me to elaborate)

Me: "Sure, some mornings I wake up, and I'm excited to work out. I really look forward to going, and I'm in a great mood the entire time I'm there. But it doesn't feel special when you accomplish something you were already excited to do, you know? What's special is when you wake up in a shit mood, knowing full well that you could slump onto the couch and stay there for hours...but you get up and go do the thing anyway. That's what feels good."

(Long pause, as he knows me too well to know that's where it ends)

"My new thing is to remind myself that I don't have to feel motivated to get something done."

I stand in front of the sink, looking at the dishes from dinner. Literally, all I have to do is scrape them off, put most of them right into the dishwasher, and handwash 1 or 2 pans. Out loud, I'll say "Ugh, I don't want to do this shit." And then I do it.

I eat the last peanut butter banana muffin, knowing that tomorrow's version of me is also going to want muffins. "Come on, I don't want to make more of these right now." And then I make them. 

I'm about to take a shower, and look down at the forest that's growing on my legs. "I'm not in the mood to shave." And I don't. Because who f*cking cares?

You're putting a lot of pressure on yourself if you think you always have to feel motivated to do something.

There's something about simply saying it out loud; acknowledging the fact that I don't feel like completing some task actually helps me to start it. If I waited around for motivation to show up, I'd basically never get anything done. I wouldn't have a routine, I wouldn't do any meal prep, I wouldn't take steps to make my life any easier. I'd also probably feel really shitty about the fact that I couldn't get motivated, which would only cause a bigger spiral. I feel like this is what keeps so many people from getting started - they believe there has to be some sort of positive emotion attached to the action.

Now, let's get something straight - this is not the same thing as being worn out, needing a rest day, or building back a habit and deciding to push through anyway. It's very important to recognize when it's not safe or beneficial to get up and do the thing.

I'm talking about when you've got the time and the ability, but you're kind of just being a stinker about it. Or, you've been pulled into this fitness industry lie that everyone with a solid routine feels super motivated all the time to make choices to "optimize their life", and that there's something wrong with you if you don't also feel that way. No ma'am. 

You stand in front of the bar. You know you could lift 5 or 10 pounds heavier, but you think "I don't want to take the time to put more weights on." And then you load them up.

There's 6 seconds left on the timer. You say to yourself, "that's close enough. I don't want to do one more rep." And then you do it.

You're staring at your phone, deciding if you should book the class. "I don't really feel like it today." And then you sign up. (Remember, if the feeling is sickness, injury, or burnout, you don't book it.)

Give yourself a little grace. You do things all day long, so it makes sense that you're not always pumped to do more. But, just because you aren't feeling that spark, doesn't mean that you can't still do the thing (as I say in class, even if you've only got 10% today, you can give 100% of 10%). 

Strength, in any form, is not a weakness. And sometimes, being strong looks like going to bed early (even if we don't want to), drinking enough water (even when it's annoying), and moving our bodies (even when we're not motivated).

So, feel free, the next time you're not motivated to do something to say "Dammit Jordann, I don't feel like it!" And then get that thing done.

You can do hard things.