My friend shared this article with me: Screw Motivation, What You Need is Discipline.
It’s a powerful article about how motivation is an excuse to procrastinate. It implies that we must feel a certain way before we do something, whereas discipline is a decision to just do it, no matter how we feel. And as a result of that discipline, we actually end up feeling better because we accomplished what we wanted to accomplish.
There’s a quote in the article that sums it up very well: “…you don’t wait until you’re in olympic form to start training. You train to get into olympic form.”
The article was talking about motivation vs. discipline in life and work, but it’s not a stretch to see how true it is for exercise, too. Which brings me to my point here today: We don’t need workout motivation. We need workout discipline.
The truth is, even the most dedicated exercisers aren’t always motivated to hit the gym. I’m speaking from my own experience here. Would I rather watch a movie with some homemade hot chocolate and a cookie? You bet. That sounds awesome.
But I love the way I feel after I workout, and I love my fit life. I don’t always want to go to the gym, so what gets me there is discipline.
I don’t wait until I feel like working out, because I can’t count on that. Instead, I go to the gym because it’s 5:30 and that’s when my kickboxing class starts. I get up and do yoga because I’ve decided I’m not doing anything else until that’s done for the day. I don’t ask myself whether or not I feel like it. I just do it.
And I’m never, ever sorry.
I’ve never once regretted a workout. Most of the time it’s hard, and once in a while I’ve even started and said, “Whoa, okay body, you’re right…you need a rest today more than you need this.” But I’ve never thought, even in those cases, I wish I hadn’t done that. Exercising always feels good eventually. 🙂
Don’t wait for workout motivation. It might never come. Don’t read endless articles and books about how to motivate yourself. You can’t depend on always feeling in the mood to do something. Instead, focus on cultivating discipline and developing healthy habits. You’ll feel better in the long run, and you’ll get your workouts done.