How to Stay Motivated
+ my weekly workout routine
When it comes to wellness, there are two questions I am asked over and over again. One is about my personal routines, and the second is about how to stay motivated.
We must let go of the idea that we need motivation to act. Motivation does not always precede action. In fact, sometimes it is action that inspires motivation. Sometimes we feel motivated for long stretches, and sometimes we can’t locate even the small semblance of it in the dregs of our being. It’s inconsistent, and in my opinion, not worth chasing.
Motivation is like a bad partner - never there when you need them! The best friend that shows up for you without fail? That’s discipline. Instead of clinging to the starry-eyed, unattainable, rom-com narrative of motivation, we must reframe the story and understand that discipline and consistency are true heroes of the love story - they are acts of self love.
That said, discipline does not mean always pushing ourselves as hard as we can.
When asked about my diet and workout, my most frequent response goes something like: “I do a mix of different training exercises and try to eat real, whole foods as much as possible. Every body is different, and will respond differently to food and exercise routines.” Aka, this is what works for me, but please know that we are all influenced by our genetics, routines, stress levels, community and so much more.
What does apply to everybody, however, is the fact that more is not always better. To put it simply, exercise is a stressor to our bodies. Strength, endurance, speed, power and even aesthetic changes only happen when we adequately hydrate, fuel, rest and recover. Overtraining is detrimental to our performance, physical, mental and hormonal health, and overall well-being.