Distractions are high, Motivation is low
We all saw the selfie of our very own Erika F. on the Community Site this week along with a description that we all connected with.
“Anyone else REALLY STRUGGLING trying to WOD with their freaking kids up their a** at home?! Every single time I stepped off to the side I’m fielding questions and dealing with nonsense. Give me 20 freaking minutes before I have a rage aneurism!!!!!!!
Mom! The ups driver is here!! Mom! This thing fell off my bike! Mom! Can you unclip my helmet?! What’s that big yellow truck? Why does it always go to the neighbors house and not ours?! Mom!!!!!!!!”
This post resonated with SO many individuals from our community because, who isn’t feeling completely distracted while trying to get a workout in these days? If it isn’t kids, it’s pets, spouses, work, family. You name it.
It seems the SECOND, you stop and decide to do something for yourself, here come the distractions.
So what’s the solution?
Is all lost? Should we just call it quits and succumb to 3 day old sweatpants, eating whatever is laying around and continue to binge watch Netflix with the remaining free time we have in the day?
We think you know the answer to that. BUT UM NO.
This situation is hard. It has been hard. Even though we are finding some what of a routine day to day, our fitness for some reason, has taken a backseat, if not been completely abandoned.
Once upon a time, you walked into ChalkDust for the first time. That was hard. Think back to what made you want to change your lifestyle and try out CrossFit. Tap into that why again. Tap into what made you put your fitness first.
With motivation at an all time low, how can we snap ourselves out of it and get moving? Well, it won’t be easy, but you aren’t scared of hard work. You know that getting comfortable with the uncomfortable fosters growth and results. So let’s kick start our fitness journey again. WE ARE CHALKDUST for crying out loud!
First, put on your regular workout clothes.
Start simple. Don’t get defeated before you even start.
If you have taken the stance of, “who do I have to impress,” this applied to you. This might even be the first time you’ve changed your clothes all day. Good! We are getting there. Don’t just saunter into the garage in your 3 day old stretched out pjs and expect to PR the WOD. Pull out your favorite shorts or leggings, grab an awesome ChalkDust tee/tank and wipe the dust off those Nanos. Now that you look that part you might as well get after it.
Schedule a time to workout and stick to it
It can be different day to day or stay the same. Just don’t let yourself cancel.
This mentally keeps us accountable. Without the physical act of driving to the gym we need to get creative with how we keep ourselves accountable. If you are the type of person that thrives on a set schedule and lists, this is a great option for you. Put your workout in your google calendar so you get a notification as well.
Let go of “perfect” conditions
It’s time we let go of trying to recreate ChalkDust at home.
To attend a class before the closure, we had to drive there. So how can we expect our home space/gym where we are 100% of our day, make us feel like we did at ChalkDust. As you are realizing, ChalkDust is much more than a physical location. It is a community, amazing coaches, expert programming and a social outlet from your daily life. All of those things that you love and benefit from, haven’t gone anywhere. They are simply in a different format. Virtual.
So even if your garage is dirty, your kids interrupt you and you only have a single dumbbell, it’s time to get to work. Put it into your notes and we can all laugh about these “Quarantine Days” a year from now. We will be back in the gym together soon enough, but for now, while the conditions aren’t perfect, they are what they are. We need to accept it and get to work.
Set up a camera and record your workout
Seriously, hear us out.
You don’t even have to do anything with it, but this small effort makes a huge difference. Just knowing you are being recorded makes you work just a little harder and keeps you a little more accountable in the middle of a long burner. You can also use the video to see how you are really moving. Are you really getting below parallel? Well, now you will know for sure!
Forget about your score
No we don’t want you to not record it.
Keep recording your score and keeping track but stop attaching your worth to it. Healthy competition is great and is what keeps some of us motivated. BUT, in these current conditions it can be defeating. Someone has heavier weights than you, their kids didn’t interrupt them 10 times, you don’t have a way to do pull ups. The excuses can go on and on. Your goal for every workout should increase your heart rate and it should boost your MOOD. We want you to feel AWESOME afterwards. Chase that goal, not the actual score.
Basically. It’s time to ditch the excuses
In closing, we are not immune to feeling unmotivated. The ChalkDust team all have our share of distractions, from full time work, kids, pets, significant others, and we are feeling the lull of this gray weather. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
So, if you went from a 5 day a week athlete to a once a week, shoot for 3 days this week. Then throw in a Core Challenge. Make a list and start to check them off. We are working hard to keep you engaged but it takes us both. You and Us. We can’t do the work for you so it’s time to take back your fitness.