The I Don't Feel Like It Blues
Are you having a bit of the “I don’t feel like it” blues? This is when you know you have to do something and you really just don’t feel like doing it. I know my clients can relate to this when I advise them to include an exercise or workout and they may not feel like doing it. (cue the eye rolls, cussing me out a bit, and laughter of course)
Certainly, there are times when we can give in to this feeling, but most of the time, we can’t afford that luxury. So how do we get through these blues? It’s a little thing called discipline. And it needs practice.
A lot of people give discipline a negative wrap. It certainly can be, but I think we exercise discipline positively more than we think. It’s what gets us up out of bed every day to go to work, to take care of kids, to get s*#t done. It’s also one of the most essential attributes we possess when it comes to moving forward, getting stronger, and accomplishing any of our goals. Most people don't realize how much discipline they already practice in their daily lives without really thinking about it. Yet practicing discipline may feel difficult when it comes to other aspects of life such as fitness and nutrition.
Know that there will be times where you “don’t feel like it" and that It will inevitably come up. How you choose to get through those moments is where your discipline kicks in. Discipline is a necessity when trying to achieve any specific goal but that doesn’t mean you have to torture yourself.
Discipline is outcome focused-- which means when you hit a moment of "not feeling like it", think about how you will feel on the other side of the completed task. Being motivated to achieve that positive feeling-- combined with the discipline to actually do it -- is what will carry you through the "I don't feel like it blues" . It will help you take positive action regardless of how you may feel in the moment.
Recognizing those blue moments and understanding that a small sacrifice (like waking up a bit earlier) might be required in order for you to feel better in the end are part of discipline. When practiced consistently over a period of time, clients say those small sacrifices were worth it and those decisions to "do it anyway" became much easier over time and even a bit enjoyable.
Think of practicing discipline like exercising a muscle. If you want a muscle to get stronger, you have to challenge it and push through a bit of discomfort to achieve that strength. It is essential for success.
Thought I would share a couple of things that I never really feel like doing:
One of them is cooking. As an example, I was making a salad the other day and I was annoyed that it was taking so long. I was really not enjoying chopping any of the vegetables but I knew it was the best option for having a healthy meal. That mattered more to me than the small sacrifice of actually having to make it. I told myself that the chopping would be over soon and then I could just enjoy the eating part. That helped me "struggle through".
I am not a morning person. I hate waking up super early. If I had it my way, I would probably wake up at 8:30am every day (that’s sleeping in for a mama) and not actually talk to anyone until 10am. However, I know earlier in the morning is the only time I get some quiet before my toddler wakes up. It’s when I can have my alone time and maximize its benefits either by getting some business done or doing an early workout. Having quiet time is more important to me than sleeping in. I, too, noticed that after practicing this discipline over a period of time, I have even learned to like it a tiny bit.
Here are a few quick tips that help my clients practice discipline:
Develop an exercise schedule that you can stick to long term. (It should be a combination of things you really enjoy mixed with some necessary but possibly boring exercises you may not want to do)
Think about the feeling you have after you've exercised or have eaten a healthy meal and hold on to that feeling!
Remember your WHY! Why did you start?
Practice what you preach-- if you tell your kids that they need to eat their veggies, then you must eat your veggies too
Everyone has one or two things regarding exercise and nutrition that they don’t feel like doing all of the time. But it’s discipline that helps us make those small sacrifices to forge ahead anyway to achieve a positive and healthy result.
So, if you don’t always feel like waking up early to exercise, every day, that’s ok. If you don’t always feel like doing the meal prep, that’s ok. Give yourself permission not to like these things, BUT DO THEM ANYWAY! Keep practicing discipline because it will get easier and you will ultimately feel amazing in the end.
Need some advice on how to incorporate more discipline with your fitness and healthy eating? Feel free to GET IN TOUCH HERE
Have a wonderful day! More to come soon,
xoxo
Ariel