When Motivation Disappears
You may be familiar with the saying ‘My Get Up and Go Has Got Up and Gone.’ I know I am. I’ve felt so demotivated lately. I’ve been tired, definitely hormonal (yay perimenopause!) and despite setting some goals for this year, I’ve not really done much to achieve them. From talking to others, I’m not alone in this. The start of the year is a funny time – it’s a great opportunity to set intentions for the 12 months ahead, but there can be a lag from a busy December, finances may not be where we want them, the weather is rubbish and the whole ‘goal-setting thing’ can be quite negative and full of masculine energy.
The Reality of Goals in Midlife
Now I do have things I want to achieve this year and I am, albeit slowly, making some progress, but, in all honesty, not as much as I’d have liked. When this happens, you have a choice – hit pause and come back to things when you feel more like it, or channel your inner Nike and ‘Just Do It.’ I’ve done both and, importantly, not given myself a hard time when I really haven’t felt like doing something. I’ve hit all my deadlines, I’m sort of on track still, and we are only 6 weeks into the year, so there’s plenty of time.
Noticing the Turning Point
That said, it felt like a lightbulb switched on over the weekend. I’m sure it’s a mere coincidence that this happened just as it became 4 months until my birthday. I have a ‘milestone’ birthday in June (well, the number goes up every year, but this year there’s a ‘0’ in there, and it’s not at the start!) and I’m going away somewhere. I’m not 100% sure where, though I’m thinking France is likely. There will be celebrations, a nice meal, a pool or a beach and I’d like to wear some nice clothes and look good in them.
Knowing What You’re Going After
I think I’ve shared I have health and fitness goals this year – I had my first menopause symptoms in December and so I want to look after myself as I fully enter the next phase of my life. I also want to be pain free, get my strength back and run a Parkrun this year. And longer term, I want to be like the ladies at my local Parkrun who are in their 60s and 70s and still take part every week and if I don’t start now, it won’t happen.
I sprained my ankle at new year, and that has definitely not help my mood for this year – it’s kept me indoors and I’ve felt really frustrated and it’s also contributed to my lack of motivation. The good news is that it is healing; it’s not 100% but it’s getting there, so now I need to strengthen it and get my life back on track.
Being Motivated IS Hard
So why am I sharing this? We can have a goal, or a focus and it can be easily derailed. Life happens, And when it does, it’s really hard to keep that motivation, to keep going and to not just give up, even temporarily. We all feel like that. And it’s OK.
It’s important to recognise when you are feeling better. It could be a physical thing, it could be a looming deadline, it could be a combination of many things. I don’t think it really matters in the end. What does matter though, is that motivation, the drive to pick youself up, dust yourself down and carry on.
Choosing Your Health, One Step at a Time
I joined a reformer pilates studio in January and although I took a few weeks off, I’m back now and I go once a week. I started a 28 day exercise challenge on Sunday (which will last a bit longer than 28 days as I won’t do classes on the days I’m doing pilates) and now that the days are feeling a bit longer, the daffodils in my garden are not far away from blooming, I’ve recognised that if I really want to wear a pretty frock in June, I need to put the effort in to make it happen.
What Goals Really Mean
And that’s really what a goal is. It’s wanting something in the future so much, that we’re prepared to work for it, to give up our time now, in order to achieve it. It seems so simple when I put it like that. It didn’t feel simple when I was lunging and holding my first plank for a VERY long time over the weekend, but actually, it’s not just about wearing a pretty frock in 4 months’ time (though it kind of is!). It’s also setting myself up for a healthy new decade and owning my self-care, my health and my choices.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If you want help owning your choices, choosing your goals and support in working towards them, please get in touch; I’d love to help you.