Good morning! I can’t even begin to express how happy I am that Friday is here. This has been a long week (or month for that matter) and a couple exciting things are happening today.
- My husband has officially finished his 5 weeks of night shifts. He’s been working Sunday-Friday night 6 PM to 6 AM for the last 5 weeks and I am so happy to have him home more again now. I didn’t mention it before for security reasons, but it’s over! He won’t have to work nights again for the rest of his residency. Woo hoo!
- We are heading to the beach for the long weekend! My husband had to work from 6 pm last night to 12 pm today (hospital then clinic) so I’ll be driving down while he gets some sleep and meeting up with our in-laws who are graciously driving the rest of the way. I am so excited for a weekend away from just the ins and outs of life.
One of the main reasons that the past couple weeks have been tough (besides only getting to see my husband one day a week) was that my runs have been extremely difficult. Getting up in the morning has become even more of a chore and I often feel so exhausted for a majority of my run.
Running goes through phases, even without pregnancy being involved. These couple weeks have really taught me about how to motivate myself even when every bone in my body is telling me to stay in my nice warm bed.
Remember it’s Only Temporary
The tiredness of dragging your body out of bed, the slugfest of the first 15 minutes (or in my case 30), and the stiffness in your legs are all only temporary. If you are a morning runner like me this is especially important to remember. It may be hard at first, but once your body gets into it you will remember just why you do it.
The Feeling at the End
This is the biggest thing that has kept me motivated so far during pregnancy. I remember how good it feels after my run when I’m on my way to work and I have already gotten a run accomplished. It wakes me up and mentally prepares me for work like nothing else can. The feeling after a run cannot be beat. Even when we have hard days, it’s always worth it!
Remember Your Goal
I always try to remember the end result in my running. During my marathon training I always remember how good it felt at the end to accomplish your goals. That is a rewarding feeling that makes every hard work out and early morning worthwhile! Right now I focus on how all these runs are preparing me for being able to recover, stay strong, and be able to run again eventually after pregnancy. No matter what stage you are in there is always an end goal, even if it just keeping yourself healthy.
Focus on How Far You’ve Come
Think back to when you first started. Was it easy? No. Is it easy now? No. Running really never gets easier we just get stronger both physically and mentally. I try to remember the tough workouts and early mornings I’ve gotten through in the past and know that if I could do it then I can do it now. Don’t focus on one bad day, instead focus on all the amazing days you’ve had an how good they feel.
It’s OK to Give Yourself a Break
Last week I needed an extra day break, and I took it. There is a difference between your body really needing a break and just lacking motivation. Sometimes they may feel the same or you can even convince yourself that it’s more than just motivation, but at the end of the day it’s important to know your body. If you need a break – take a break! These days don’t happen that often but I really do think they help me in the long run!
Motivation comes and goes, but even the worst days help to make us stronger!
What are your tips when you are lacking motivation?
What are your 4th of July weekend plans?