Sometimes there comes a period of decline in strength. The reasons may be different, but they all stem from stress. Whether it's a difficult race, a breakdown at work, or a period of recovery – both psychological and physical. The time to grieve comes especially in the off-season, when the big starts are behind us and the weather is getting worse.
But what can you do to not stop and do what you like, even if the weather is bad outside?
Set a smaller, more personal goal. Not to prepare for a marathon, but to stay in shape and improve your health.
A marathon is a great goal, but what happens after the finish line? Sometimes, having achieved a big goal, we lose motivation, and training stops. Therefore, it is important that behind a big goal there is internal motivation – love for yourself and the process. It works forever.
For example, I never had a goal of just running a marathon. But through my love of running regularly, I was able to complete several marathons. It was a natural result of my habit, not an exhausting pursuit of a medal.
If you suddenly feel tired from running, take a walk in the forest or in the mountains. In extreme cases, yoga and team sports can help.
When I suddenly got tired of these endless workouts, I started just walking more, doing yoga, riding a bike, and occasionally running.
Find a like-minded person, it's more fun together. And the daily routine won't be so intrusive.
A running buddy or friend is always a great opportunity to get out for a workout. I often get work issues resolved while running.
Value the process itself, not the result of the workout.
Sometimes we chase after what we don't need. If you're not a professional athlete, then what's really important to you is not a medal, but your health first. And the rest is trifles.
Find a reward for yourself.
Come up with a result for yourself and achieve it. Not for a coach, not for a photo on a social network, or for a clubmate, but for yourself.
Do it for the fun (high).
Of course, not every workout will be a breeze. Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to see progress. But if you hate the process of running or another sport, maybe you should try something else? Find an activity that brings you pleasure, at least in the end. You need to love yourself, not force yourself to do what is fashionable for others.
Don't dive headlong into sports euphoria just because everyone else is doing it.
If you don't like sports fanatically, that's fine. You don't have to be like everyone else.
Don't be aggressive towards yourself.
Get rid of loud statements like “you have to”, “you couldn’t, so you didn’t want to, you’re weak-minded”. Always think positively. “I couldn’t, okay. But how can I make it work?” is a phrase that changes the situation.
Never scold yourself!
If the training was unsuccessful, you should not scold yourself. You need to work on your mistakes, not put spokes in the wheels that you still have to ride. You need to encourage yourself and move on.
Don't compare your progress to someone else's.
You should only compare yourself to yourself from yesterday. The habit of comparing yourself to others works against you.
Combine business with pleasure.
Take a friend you haven't seen in a while for a run. If you're running in a safe place, like a stadium or a familiar park, you can turn on an interesting podcast or audiobook. But remember to be safe and listen to your body, especially if you're a beginner. Sometimes the best run is one that's quiet, giving your brain a real break.
Form a habit and set aside time for it in advance.
And most importantly, write why you need it. For example, for me, running in the morning gives me energy, a charge for the day, and generally helps me focus on solving my tasks. That's why I need it.
Keep a training plan and a wellness diary.
Start a real running diary with plans, illustrations, feelings, places, and discoveries. And you'll definitely want to track your progress.
Put self-care first, and you'll see how much more time you have.
All the things that are not useful will fade into the background. And it will turn out that you still have time.
If something doesn't work, change your approach.
Don't like running in the morning – run in the evening. Alternate morning/evening. Use cross-training.
Offer yourself an alternative.
If you don't want to leave the house today, work out at home.
Make yourself a promise.
Promise yourself to train little by little. Don't force yourself or overdo it. Exhausting yourself after a hard day at work is not a case of knocking out a wedge with a wedge.
Listen to new music with every workout.
For example, I am immersing myself in the world of classical music. There are probably many concerts you want to listen to, but you just don't have enough time.
Watch a motivational video.
This is great for practicing at home, especially in rainy weather.
Джерело: ukr.media
