I hate to say it, but I've got to be honest: since I ran that race a couple weeks ago, my workout schedule has.... dwindled. To near-nonexistent. So I told myself last night that I would go running this morning, but then I had troubles falling asleep. I laid in bed this morning for about twenty minutes, half-listening to the painful sounds of KissFM, trying to decide whether I should go running or work on a paper or go back to sleep.
The little voices of reason in my head duked it out over using my time wisely, for things I really need to get done, as opposed to things that aren't really neccessary.
It was then that I realized that if I hadn't been having this useless debate with myself, I'd already be out the door. So I got up and put my shoes on.
I have a problem with keeping up with exercise during both the winter and times of endless school assignments. My brain justifies not working out because I have so many other responsibilities.
But if I stop and really think about it... I spent an hour last night watching Mad Men, something that really is not necessary but a passion nonetheless, so I make time for it. Time that could have been spent writing a paper. I love running and working out, I really do, but I guess the difference in my priority levels is attributable to the fact that watching Mad Men is a passive act (well, sort of, except when I yell at the Don in my TV screen to stop being a wife-cheating douchebag), while exercise is active and thus more strenuous. Maybe I'm just lazy.
But I felt so good when I got back from my run--which surprised me because I thought my hiatus was going to kick me in the ass--that I realized this is not a battle I can let lethargy win. Because the longer you go without exercise, the less vital it seems, the more you forget how good it makes you feel, and the easier it is to push it further back on the mental shelf.
So goal this winter: Don't slack off, stop over-analyzing, turn your brain off and your body on and JUST GO.
wow you totally said it. I have recently been off the work out schedule due to my "midterms" excuse, which I have justified to be a valid one. But now that midterms are over, and I can get back into the swing of things, I have been giving myself excuses as to why I can't run because of blah blah blah. I think that its true that the longer you go without working out, the more your brain forgets how good it feels. We really do need to stop making excuses when it comes time to work out.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I also wanted to tell you that your comments for me are very fun. I just now realized there are many more than I had seen. So, thank you.
ReplyDeleteI have been on a hiatus from running for far too long too, and have had trouble getting out of bed as of late (as the boyfriend says, "My bed's trapped meeeeeeee!") I have found, however, that the tips from this blogger have helped me set a consistent wake-up and running schedule:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/04/how-to-get-up-right-away-when-your-alarm-goes-off/