What’s Your “WHY?”
I walk into the Hyper Building an hour before practice starts and wander down to the training room. As I wait for a heating pad to put on my stiff muscles, I find the Motrin and chat with teammates. After getting warmed up and a little bit of socializing, I find myself lying on the training table receiving trigger point therapy (which hurts so good). I think about how challenging the coming workout will be and how it will pay dividends when conference comes around. After the many knots are worked out of my muscles, I make my way to the meeting room, where my teammates gather to see what Coach has planned for us. Within minutes we make our way out the door to start our 1-2 mile warm-up, followed by some stretching. Then the real work begins. Hard work, all are working towards the same goal…to be our best to help the team win a conference championship.
When I competed at the college level, everything seemed so easy. Work was flexible and gave me hours that worked around my classes and training, and my classes fit into a schedule that made the training easy. When it was time for competition, work and classes would wait. Everyone was there to support the team and help all of us succeed. Then graduation came, a full-time job started, and life as an adult began. Even with all that I learned in college, it took me many years afterward to figure out how to hold myself accountable for my training goals.
Since college, I have been through many seasons of competition, hoping for more than I achieved and giving less than my best effort. As of late, it has only been that I figured out what I was missing, other than my teammates, my coach, my support network, and everyone catering to me. I was missing my "WHY." In college, we had individual goals, but we also had a team goal. We depended on each other to push us in training to meet our goals. The coach planned our workouts and called us out if we didn’t give our best effort. We had each other to compete against and challenge each other to be better. We had others depending on our dedication to help achieve those Championship trophies. Now, I only have myself. Sure, my family is very supportive, but they will not be the ones missing anything if I don't work out. They encourage me, and it seems as though they enjoy training with me and even going to the races, but they are not let down if I fail to give my best effort. I am the only one let down, and sometimes that is not enough to make me try harder. I have often found myself asking, "Why do I compete" - and the honest answer is just as simple as it has ever been because I love it. I guess you might say that competition is in my blood. It is a big part of what makes me who I am. I do not need to compete, but I want to compete.
I was a sassy child. I had a big mouth and a bad attitude. When I got into running, I lost some of that. I found confidence in myself, and I burned off excess energy. I learned about hard work and how rewarding it could be. I also learned to control myself better. All of these things are still very true for me today. When I am not exercising, I am not as good of a mom or a wife. I have lower self-confidence, and I am more stressed. I have often used these things (my husband, children, lack of energy, or health) as my excuses. Recently I decided it was time for a change. How was I going to meet my goals? Well, with a different attitude is how! This is our topic for today.
I need regular exercise to be a better wife, mother, and friend. Among many other things, regular exercise is known to increase energy, improve mood, reduce stress, build strength and endurance. Amazing that all the things I want are wrapped up into one nice little package, exercise. I like to call it training, though. I feel like if I am going to exercise, it should be for competition because I love it. I changed my attitude and turned my excuses into "WHY" I need to work out. You can do the same. Do you ever say any of the following?
"My back hurts."
"My knees hurt."
"I am too tired."
"I have too much to do."
"I would, but I have kids."
"I am sick. I have had a cold for weeks."
The list can go on and on. Let's take a look at this…."My knees (or back) hurt." Maybe you are weak and need to strengthen some muscles. With a little bit of work, you could alleviate those pains and feel better. "I am too tired." Exercising gives you energy. Try 10 minutes of exercise, and if you are too tired to continue, stop and take a nap. If you can get your heart rate up for 10 minutes, you might decide to finish your workout. "I have kids." Perfect, what a great way to help fight childhood obesity. Take them with you and let them see you exercise. Let them participate if they can. Maybe one day they will be a superstar. "I am sick." Exercise is known to strengthen the immune system. Are you tired of being sick and run down? Then do something about it, get healthy!! It is very easy to get caught up in the "WHY NOTS." You need to learn to turn those "WHY NOTS" into the reason "WHY." This will be your motivation to get out the door. After all, your motivation is what keeps you going.
I took my goals for triathlons (placing at local races and qualifying for Nationals) and found my "WHY" for accomplishing them. These "WHYs" tie directly into my other goals and my wants. I want to be a better mother and wife. My exercising/training helps me burn off stress and do something for myself. It is just the medicine I need each day to let go of everything and be in the moment. I have a moment to focus on one thing instead of the 100 things any parent is faced with. I want more energy, be stronger, and have better health. If you have ever exercised regularly, you know these are three wonderful benefits. I also want to be a positive example for my children. I do not want them to be couch potatoes, and I do not want them to be lazy. I want to see them succeed, and I want to see them work hard for what they want. How can I expect them to do something I am not willing to do myself? Leading by example is much better than "Do what I say, not as I do." Not to mention we have some incredible family adventures exercising together. So, my "WHY" is to be a better mother, a better wife, have more energy, more strength, have better health, and be an excellent example to my children. These things are my motivation to get training, and the competition is a nice reward for working hard towards all of my goals.
Now, how am I going to accomplish this? The "HOW" is the map that takes my dreams and makes them goals. By identifying my "WHYS," I could see the importance of achieving my goals. My how is more than just a workout plan. It is finding a way to fit my workout into each day. It is seizing each moment I have to push ahead. Sometimes I train early in the morning, DarkEarly. Other times I train when my little ones take a nap. Sometimes, I train after all the kids are in bed. The "How" that works for me is to be flexible and plan ahead. I anticipate what the week holds for us and what each day has in store. If we have a busy day, I work out earlier. If we have an early morning event, I work out after the kids go to bed. If my husband has to leave early, I work out when the little ones are napping. This may not work for you. I know many of you work and have a busy schedule. I recommend two ways to approach scheduling a workout. The first option (the best in my opinion) is training at the same time every day. I prefer morning workouts, as these can always be accomplished with nothing getting in the way. Give yourself 30-60 minutes before the normal start of your day. It feels fantastic to have accomplished something for yourself and work towards your goals early in the morning, not to mention knowing it is already done. For those with a hectic schedule, the second option is to be flexible and wisely use your time. If you have 30 minutes, use it to work out. Sneak it in wherever you can. It is incredible how much time you can make for your workout if you consider why "WHY" is important.
With a goal, your motivation (WHY), and your plan (HOW), you should be set. Let's be honest, even with all of this laid out, it is tough to change routines - and become committed to something new. To help combat the days I didn’t want to put in the effort; I made a notecard with my main goals and all of my whys. I taped it to the cabinet by our kitchen sink, where I see it multiple times a day. I also taped one to my bedroom door. Please let me reiterate that my "WHYS" are also usually my excuses. I am a mother of three, am busy, usually tired, and not a morning person. These things have been my excuses not to go out the door when in reality, they are also the reasons why I need to go out the door. To combat my excuses, I turned them into my "WHYS" and put them where I could see them throughout the day. It reminds me, especially when I get stressed out, of what is important to me. It has proven to be just enough to help me find my motivation when it is lacking.
There is still no guarantee that you will accomplish your goals with all of this. You have to do the work. No one can do it for you. If you follow these tips, you will have a game plan, and hopefully, you can find the motivation to get out there and better yourself.
"Some people want it to happen, and some wish it would happen; others make it happen." Michael Jordan
Best of Luck,
Dark Early
Where the good become great!
