Combating demotivating stress.

justinejacksonm

I know I know. Exercise can help reduce stress. The problem is that overcoming the lack of motivation that a stressful day may impart on one's fitness plans, is not easy.

I often start out very motivated and look forward all day to my time to get my workout in. I mean I have huge plans. Every day I'm going to totally crush it *today*- absolutely, 100%.

On a packed and stressful day like today, especially when my day starts and ends much later, by the time I get done working and clock out at 7 I'm totally done in and ready to just skip it, yet again for another night. Exhausted. Fatigued. Irritated. Disheartened by my lack of motivation. Disappointed in myself and ready to open a bottle of wine, eat whatever I want and plan to begin again tomorrow.

My mom has stage 4 cancer and is in the hospital and situation is generally not good. I spend any free moment I have during the day on the phone with doctors, nurses, etc. Finding time to squeeze in driving to the hospital, etc. Then I work and I sit at my little desk here at home (albeit a really cozy little place to have to work) and get pissed off and stressed dealing with obnoxious, rude, literally helpless and stupid customers calling me until in either allowed to log off for the day or finally allowed to get off the phone with someone Im forbidden from hanging up on.

That being said, I know very well once I get warmed up and actually start working out I won't want to stop! But like now it's already 8:20pm. I just ate dinner first instead of starting my workout and now I'm standing here in my gear writing this post thinking how much I already don't feel like doing this and just really just want to shower and open that bottle of Riesling in the fridge and veg out- but that is so warm in here not even moving around yet... REALLY not feeling in the mood for it.

I have no idea how to combat or overcome this lack of will power. It's like I'm on the go go go go and so stressed with all the HAVE to dos and need for something, anything, to look forward to in my day, I take it out on my workouts cause that's really the only thing I have the power free myself from the pressure/obligation to do, to go do something enjoyable.

snowflake954

Personally it would be impossible for me to exercise in the evening. I am beat--a rag that just sits in a chair after a long day. I get up early every morning to get my exercise in. I have more energy then and enjoy my yoga, stretching, and power walking in the park. There are fewer people around and I can start my day off with enjoying nature. Everyone has to find their own way. You may do something in the morning, and then again mid afternoon. Everything depends on your job and how you are organized. There is always a way. Good luck.

Bex953172

Okay first, just breathe! Sounds like you got a lot on your plate so it's no wonder your minds going a million times a minute!

Im sorry to hear about your mum, that's truly awful and I'm not surprised your massively stressed, ANYONE would be.
Not to mention a stressful job, if you're going to get spoken to like rubbish by customers. I think with your job, just try not let the emotions of your work hang with you when you finally get to log off.

What are your typical workouts? Are they based on time or intensity?
You could start with just smaller workouts, based on time. Theres an app called the 7 minute workout. Now I know it sounds like it's not gonna do much in terms of burning calories and actually making a difference but don't worry about that. It's about getting into the routine of exercising.
I'm sure you could find 7 minutes in your day to do some exercise.
And like you say, once you start, you get going. But by breaking the workout into just 7 minutes it doesn't seem so daunting to start in the first place. And then after the 7 mins you can decide whether to carry on or leave it that for the day if you really don't feel up to it.

You're never going to feel like it. that's another important thing, stop waiting to "feel" like doing it, sod how you feel and do it anyway!!

A video I've seen which I found helpful was one by Mel Robbins, just Google "Mel Robins - how to stop screwing yourself over"
It's a TEDTalk, but I found it very interesting and her 5 second rule actually worked for me.

As the previous poster said, is morning exercise doable for you?
I'm also an evening exerciser. 3 kids so I usually wait til they're in bed, so I'm usually fatigued from the kids by the time bedtime swings by. And I'll admit I don't always work out, but like you that's something I'm wanting to work on using the advice I've given you

Good luck, let us know how you get on 🙂

88olds

You’ve gotten some really good advice so far. Maybe try to quit kicking yourself for how you’re feeling. It’s OK not to crush it. It’s even OK not to want to do it at all.

What works for me is something is better than nothing. Sometimes I make deals with myself along the lines of if I just get to the gym I’ll do 50% and quit. Or even 50% at 50% intensity. Or today I’ll just walk on the treadmill. Even on the treadmill days I generally leave the gym feeling OK. I think about it as having defended a good habit. If I start skipping the gym all together pretty soon that time slot gets filled with sitting on the couch and TV. There’s a lot of room to work in between nothing and crushing it. Bend, don’t break.

rosebarnalice

S it possible that you're asking to much of yourself right now?.

Maybe instead of feeling like a failure, lol at your successes: you're caring for an ailng other, your walking untold steps down hsital corridors to visit her, and you've got an inherently stressful jb where yu're giving yourself to your complaining customers in ways they don't deserve.

Does your work have some scripts for dealing with irate callers? Do they offer trainings for managing stress? Can you find ways to do your job without internalizing all that anger and stress projected on you? I know it's an inherently stressful job, but perhaps finding a few coping mechanisms would leave you less drained at the end of the day