My second week back at it and I almost got completely derailed. Usually I mentally intimidate and talk myself out of going to the gym. But this week, my body completely revolted against me.
Sabotage!
My routine is to lift weights Mondays, Wednesdays, and either Fridays or Saturdays with Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays reserved for a soon-to-be-started running routine. This is all definitely manageable and achievable (a SMART objective if you’re in the management training business; you know, specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound).
I’m still in the headspace of avoiding the Happy Hour crowd at the gym, so I leave work about 6, walk home (so nice!), play with my cat, and relax for a bit. On Monday, I did all that, then laid down on my bed to “rest my eyes” for a minute. As I was laying there, I said to myself, “self, don’t fall asleep. You have goals. You want to go workout.” Then my crafty brain (and trust me, it’s crafty) completely sabotaged my plans by allowing me to take a three hour nap. I woke up at 9:30 disoriented, frustrated, disgruntled and being stared at straight in the face by one very hungry (and equally disgruntled) cat.
I stagger into the kitchen, feed the cat, eat a piece of toast, turn on my heel, and collapse back into bed.
Brain: 1; Workout: 0
Bribery!
Tuesday rolls around and in the morning I’m gung-ho for working out after work. I’m determined to stay on track. I can still get three workouts in this week and start my running routine. Things are looking good!
Flash forward to 6 pm, it’s been an intense day at work, I’m tired, I don’t want to work out. I feel myself slipping in to my old habits. I don’t want this to happen. I also don’t want to shame myself into the gym. (I’m very good at doing that and it’s not the right way of doing things.) Once home, I avoid my bed at all costs. I won’t let my brain sabotage me again!
But I’m slipping into the “I can just go tomorrow” mentality. I need something to motivate me. Something positive. Something uplifting. Something that makes me happy.
So I bribe myself.
I tell myself, “self, you can buy the new Gaslight Anthem album and listen to it at the gym, but only if you buy it now and go to the gym right after it finishes downloading and syncing to your iPod.” That’s all it took.
As it’s syncing, I change into some gym clothes (no time to waste changing in the locker room), descend my 8 floors completely prepared to walk the 480-something steps. And then I walk outside…
Precipitation!
…to the beginnings of a torrential downpour. What the heck is going on here?!?? On Monday my brain plots against me. On Tuesday it’s mother nature. I know that if I go back upstairs to get an umbrella, I’m sunk. I won’t leave the house. I bolt for the gym. It’s only a block-and-a-half. How wet can I possibly get? Plus I have dry gym clothes there. It’s a win-win situation.
I make it to the gym only “substantially damp” (vs. “dripping wet”). I’m gonna get sweaty anyway, we’re good.
Victory! Let the working out begin!!