9 'till 5 = lack of motivation

natewilson

Is it just me, or does working 9 while 5 dampen all motivation to come home and work out?? Going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark gives me zilch inspiration to come home and get my work out clothes on all I want is my pjs!! Does anyone feel the same and how do you get you *kitten* in to gear??

Angelfire365

I completely feel you. Who the heck wants to work out after you **finally** make it home from eight hours of work. I'm at a desk job and I go home exhausted! Have you ever tried morning workouts? You have to get up a little earlier, but they're completely worth it. By the time my brain has woken up and joined the game, I'm already halfway done a workout. And you get to go home and get straight into Jammies!

kailyw05

Yup! I joined a gym near my work so I fit in my weight lifting / circuit training at lunch (lately it's been 2 - 3 times per week but I hope to increase this to 3 - 4 days per week). Yes I get a little sweaty, yes it's a bit annoying sometimes, but it helps a lot. I have a treadmill at home and do my cardio workouts there in the evenings, usually on days when I don't go to the gym at lunch. And I usually limit this to 30 minutes. Feels much less daunting to me when I know I don't have to spend an hour of my evening working out.

I still struggle every day with my evening workouts though. Luckily my husband gives me a little push to get on that treadmill when I'm feeling lazy. Hopefully you can figure out something that works for you!

kristy6ward

9 to 5 isnt what dampens my motivation its the darkness of winter. December really destroyed me. You just have to look at it as prepping for summer...getting fit to look your best during all those warm sunlight hours. I can't wait! I keep myself in check by signing up for races. If I don't stick to my training schedule, I know the race is going to suck. It's a definite deadline to work towards. I do have those cozy nights where I just snuggle under fleece blankets and stream netflix, but thats what rest days are for.

segacs

Yes to all of the above.

I've been making a point of getting outside for a 20-30 minute walk at lunchtime every day. Even though it's been brutally cold (windchills of -25 to -30) and the sidewalks are icy, I just bundle up and do it. Getting some daylight or sunlight is making a world of difference to my mood.

radiosilents

Yep, It can be a challenge. I take walks on my lunch breaks most days, even in the cold. I'm fortunate that there is a space in the basement at work that I have been allowed to use for exercise, so that really helps. I just bring exercise clothing along and change into it.

I guess after a few months I have grown to see exercise as a stress releaser and something that makes me happy, so it's not such a chore to get "motivated". I pick a class at the gym I want to do on an evening, and it becomes an appointment that I just go to, for example.

NoelFigart1

It does. That's why I work out before work.

Azexas

Yeah I work 8-4 and can think of a million reasons why I don't want to work out after work. That's why I switched to working out at 5am before I go in.

segacs

NoelFigart1 wrote: »

It does. That's why I work out before work.

You are obviously very motivated. It would take a gang of machine-gun wielding guys to haul me out of bed in the morning even an instant earlier than I have to. Mornings are NOT my friend.

Zuidz

I work 6:30-3, then come home and take a quick nap. When I wake up I usually feel ready for the gym!

allie_00p

NoelFigart1 wrote: »

It does. That's why I work out before work.

+1

Azexas

segacs wrote: »

NoelFigart1 wrote: »

It does. That's why I work out before work.

You are obviously very motivated. It would take a gang of machine-gun wielding guys to haul me out of bed in the morning even an instant earlier than I have to. Mornings are NOT my friend.

I used to be the same way haha. I found if I set 4 alarms on my cell phone and then place my cell phone on the other side of the room it gets me out of bed lol.

Capt_Apollo

natewilson wrote: »

Is it just me, or does working 9 while 5 dampen all motivation to come home and work out??

nope

SuggaD

natewilson wrote: »

Is it just me, or does working 9 while 5 dampen all motivation to come home and work out?? Going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark gives me zilch inspiration to come home and get my work out clothes on all I want is my pjs!! Does anyone feel the same and how do you get you *kitten* in to gear??

My hours are a little longer and less predictable, but I feel ya. But I am a morning person, so I work out in the morning. And for my evening workouts, I have to go straight after work and sometimes I have to talk it up in my head the entire drive. I have sometimes talked myself out of going after work, but more often than not, can make it there and always feel great afterwards. If I go home first, workout is not gonna happen. I am mentally drained at the end of the day for sure.

sherbear702

It's tough. I work 7:30 - 4:00 (8 hour day), but I try to leave my house at 6:30 to make it to work on time and I'm not usually home until 5ish. So I'm gone from home for almost 11 hours every day of the week.

I walk on my lunch break, which is at least a half hour. Sometimes, I'll walk for an hour and just use some of my leave balances to make up for the extra 1/2 hour I took at lunch. I've also started using the 7 minute total body workout, so I do that and then go for a walk. It's been working pretty good so far.

DaivaSimone

I workout in the morning on the day I lift. By that, I mean that every monday, wednesday and friday, I'm leaving home at 5:45 and I'm in the gym at 6:30. By the time I finish my workout and shower myself, I'm in office at 8:10.

The other day, I workout just after work, at home. If I wait after dinner, I won't lift my butt off the couch, so I need to do it as soon as I come home. If I have anything to do in the evening that will prevent me from exercising, I'll go in the gym in the morning instead.

Seriously, if it was not that much a pain in the *kitten* to get up early, bring my big gym bag to work and cook and eat breakfast in my office, I would workout every morning, but sometimes, I like to have a break from big luggage in the subway.

tulips_and_tea

I'm fortunate that the gym I go to is on my route home, so it's really silly to drive right by it and not go. Even on bad snow days. I have to get home anyway, so stopping for a workout only makes sense. Plus, you ALWAYS feel better afterwards.

The key is preparedness and not expecting to be motivated or even excited to workout. Habit. It's all about habit. Go to msn.com and read "5 Unexpected Ways to Break a Habit". Short, concise, and has some really good info about making NEW habits. Give it a try!

adge1475

I work 8am-5pm. I go to bed at 8pm. I get up at 4am to go to the gym. I get a lot more done in the morning with fewer distractions. I can't work out after work either; just can't get focused and the gym is too packed. It's definitely not for everybody, but that's just my priority. I also have the luxury of not having kids? I'm assuming kids make it harder for some people to work out after work?

adge1475

I work 8am-5pm. I go to bed at 8pm. I get up at 4am to go to the gym. I get a lot more done in the morning with fewer distractions. I can't work out after work either; just can't get focused and the gym is too packed. It's definitely not for everybody, but that's just my priority. I also have the luxury of not having kids? I'm assuming kids make it harder for some people to work out after work?

segacs

adge1475 wrote: »

I go to bed at 8pm. I get up at 4am to go to the gym.

That sounds like pure torture to me. You know the expression "you don't live longer, it just feels longer"?

Going to bed at 8pm would mean giving up everything in my life that I enjoy -- my friends, my social life, my activities, pretty much everything.

I get that some people don't mind because they're morning people. As a night owl, I'm just saying that I'd rather poke hot needles in my eye.

MommysLittleMeatball

I hate mornings. I'm not a morning person. I love sleep, love my bed, love staying up late because falling asleep isn't easy for me, but I WANT to be fit and I need to work out to do so.
I work 8-5pm. I wake up at 5:20am to stretch/jog, eventually that will turn into 5am. It's dark in the morning and I hate it. My alarm goes off and I just want to snooze, but I don't and I love that I get my a55 up and move. I love how I have more energy at work. I love that I can actually fall asleep now at night instead of laying in bed awake. I love the progress I am making with my running.

I still struggle in the morning when my alarm goes off, but I know I won't run in the evening, so I get up. I talk myself out of the excuses and get my head off the pillow.

NewMeSM75

We leave at 6 am and return around 5:30 pm. I basically make myself. It's just not an option. It's a priority... I get up at 5 am. My goal is to get up at 4:30 to get 30 minutes on treadmill. And keep bowflex in the evening.

natewilson

Angelfire365 wrote: »

I completely feel you. Who the heck wants to work out after you **finally** make it home from eight hours of work. I'm at a desk job and I go home exhausted! Have you ever tried morning workouts? You have to get up a little earlier, but they're completely worth it. By the time my brain has woken up and joined the game, I'm already halfway done a workout. And you get to go home and get straight into Jammies!

I agree but when it's cold outside it kills me having to get up!!

hawks2488

I go in the morning. It's worth waking up at 4:30-5:00am. I have about a 40 minute commute in the morning to work and an hour after work. After work I don't want to do anything but go home, have a light dinner and plop down on the chair. Surprisingly my gym (I go to LA Fitness) is not very crowded in the morning. But at night after work FORGET IT... plus if you exercise in the morning it boosts your metabolism.

butterfli7o

Oh, I totally hear you. I'm finally home from work by 6pm, it's dark out, and I have my daughter and a household to take care of. But I just make myself do it. I tried before work, and that just ain't happening. I can barely get myself up on time to get to work, so there's no way getting up at 5 or 5:30 is happening.

butterfli7o

Plus my hubby was NOT happy having to hear that alarm go off at 5:30 and then listening to me running around the room to get dressed...no matter how quiet I tried to be.

ThatMouse

I'm in the "workout before work" club. I'll list my reasons below, and maybe you can find a few that might jog the idea for you that working out pre-work might not be as bad as you think (if it's possible, for some it's not feasible). I get out of bed at around 5:30AM, putz around at home until around 6AM, spend time at the gym from 6:30AM to 7:45AM including showering and such, and start work at 8:00AM. My gym is also right next door to my workplace, so I don't have a lot of travel between.

• At 6:30AM, the gym is sparsely populated. I don't wait for a squat rack or a treadmill.
• I avoid morning rush-hour, which would make my usual 15 min commute a 45 min commute for the same distance.
• I work out any upcoming or residual frustrations/stresses/anger/anxiety about the day or yesterday.
• I get more done before I get to work than most of my coworkers do before they're out of bed - it's a neat feeling.
• I'm more aware and awake at work.
• After work, I head home and, like hawks2488, I don't have to do anything other than sit down and relax.

As for working out after work, I have karate on Tuesday nights that I have to get to straight after work. I don't count it as a chore because I enjoy the sport, but here's a few reasons why I find it easy to get to after work:

• Stress-relief. Bad client? Annoying phone call? I can work it out with a punching bag or a sparring opponent.
• It's me time. I don't have to worry about anyone or anything else. It's me, my body, my technique and my teachers. Nothing else.
• I sleep like a log after a good work out and it helps me to feel refreshed in the morning - and ready for my 6:30AM workout.

allie_00p

Jackie0Marie wrote: »

I hate mornings. I'm not a morning person. I love sleep, love my bed, love staying up late because falling asleep isn't easy for me, but I WANT to be fit and I need to work out to do so.
I work 8-5pm. I wake up at 5:20am to stretch/jog, eventually that will turn into 5am. It's dark in the morning and I hate it. My alarm goes off and I just want to snooze, but I don't and I love that I get my a55 up and move. I love how I have more energy at work. I love that I can actually fall asleep now at night instead of laying in bed awake. I love the progress I am making with my running.

I still struggle in the morning when my alarm goes off, but I know I won't run in the evening, so I get up. I talk myself out of the excuses and get my head off the pillow.

This chick - she does the work (*)

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knittnponder

I have the privilege of being able to stay home but my husband could relate to this. He's up at 4:30 am and works long hours. His motivation tends to me me. We go to the gym together to workout and sometimes I almost have to drag him but he goes. He isn't being forced against his will, he appreciates having a workout partner that keeps him going. Maybe find a motivating (and persistent) workout partner? And by that I mean we go to the gym together, start our workout together and then we split up to do our own thing so it's not like you have to hold hands all evening or anything.

AliceDark

I work out before work now, but when I used to go after work, I would change into my gym clothes and shoes at work and go straight to the gym. I feel really silly wearing my gym clothes just to sit in traffic, so it would make me more likely to go. I can't go home and then go to the gym later, because once I'm home I'm staying there.