We all like to make a lot of excuses.... here have been some of mine lately "Oh I don't have time to run or work out today" or "I am so tired, I don't think I will read my scriptures tonight," because I know as well as anyone else (unless you are lying to yourself) that you have the time for whatever it is you want to do in your day. If it is important to you, you WILL make it happen. If I really wanted to get my run in before my energy is drained by the end of my work day, I would wake up at 5 a.m. and get it done. Which means I would have to commit to getting to bed earlier. If I really wanted to read my scriptures every night, I would spend 15 or 20 minutes less online (reading all of your blogs! ha!) and just go do it. Why is it so hard to just DO the things we really want to do sometimes? I know what I want, I know I am capable of doing it, so why do I feel like I am so full of excuses, so lazy? Sometimes I use the excuse that I deserve the "break" the down time. But I know as much as I love that break, I would enjoy the feeling of doing everything I want and need to do so much more.
I know for a fact I could get all the things I need to get done if I didn't let my body control me, and instead let my mind control me. Does this even make sense? It is simply will power. What do you guys do to help you stay motivated? Any tips? I have tried a lot of different things, and I know at the end of the day it has to be pure will. I seriously want to wake up at 5 a.m. and do my work outs, and be ready and awake for my day with a healthy start. I want to be better about morning and nightly prayers and reading my scriptures, so I just need to DO it. I know life is all about the progression. Trying to be better each and every day. But sometimes I just get disappointed in myself because I know.... I KNOW that I CAN do better. So why aren't I?
I know for a fact I could get all the things I need to get done if I didn't let my body control me, and instead let my mind control me. Does this even make sense? It is simply will power. What do you guys do to help you stay motivated? Any tips? I have tried a lot of different things, and I know at the end of the day it has to be pure will. I seriously want to wake up at 5 a.m. and do my work outs, and be ready and awake for my day with a healthy start. I want to be better about morning and nightly prayers and reading my scriptures, so I just need to DO it. I know life is all about the progression. Trying to be better each and every day. But sometimes I just get disappointed in myself because I know.... I KNOW that I CAN do better. So why aren't I?
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I am t.o.t.a.l.l.y. with you on this one girl! I have a few things that I 'plan' to do, but often find myself making an excuse me. And it's not because I'm not capable of doing them ... it's just a matter of making it happen and sticking to it.
ReplyDeleteim going through the same thing. It's so hard to just DO it. What helps me is reading quotes on pinterest. I have found a bunch of really good ones. :)
ReplyDeleteXX
Eryka
erykaann88@gmail.com
It's so difficult when you feel drained or uninspired but it's definitely true that you just have to do it! I'm dealing with the same thing with classes and everything else.
ReplyDeletePIECE OF CAKE. PEACE OF MIND.
Man, I feel the same. I've had this wave of inspiration lately and I'm just sitting on edge waiting for it to go away like it so often does. Someone needs to figure out a way to keep it around! Hang in there girly!
ReplyDeletei'm kinda feeling the same way about life right now. I have no motivation to do anything! whether its jogging, tiding the house, or whatever, i just am not interested. I know its stuff that i want to do, and it wouldn't even take that long, but something in me is just like....no, you'll get to it tomorrow...and when tomorrow comes, i do nothing about it again. People tell me its the change of the season thats bringing you down. I live in Vancouver, so yes the rainy season can be pretty sucky, but its just part of life here, it rains and you move on. anyway, i'm kind of ranting now.... in the end self motivation can get really difficult, but you're the only one that can change it. I'll stir up some positiveness for you, and you can bounce it back my way!
ReplyDeletei am becoming the QUEEN of excuses lately! Working 3pm-11pm 5 nights a week is making it easier for me to make the excuses as well! What can we do about this problem!?!??!
ReplyDeleteyou will overcome it! just make those things part of a routine that you always stick to.
ReplyDeletealso, lists. making a list and checking things off of it will make you want to do those things! (at least that's what works for me :) )
this has been my exact thought lately. you are motivating. all my goals that i have set for november, for the end of the year. i am going to get them done. thanks for sharing this, i really needed to have this pep talk.
ReplyDeleteOh I feel the same way sometimes. And I always blame not having enough time. I truly believe there isn't enough time of the day for me do everything. But people tell me to just do the things that matters to me the most, and the rest can wait.
ReplyDeleteJust believe that you are strong and you can overcome any obstacles. If you make a list don't put too much that way you won't be disapointed.
F172465234
Staying on track is such a roller coaster for me! And you're SO right- it really comes down to will power. One thing that helps me is to put up quotes where I will see them often. And I try to change them up and put new, inspiring ones up about whatever I may be struggling with at that time. Also, I JUST started writing down my my goals for the next day in my journal. I'm hoping that helps me. We'll see!
ReplyDeleteI finally came to the conclusion that it was OKAY not to accomplish everything on my "to do" list. It was hard to except the fact that I wasn't super woman. Haha!! It's just all about perspective. I'm sure your husband is thinks his chauffeur is super "wonder"ful!! :)
ReplyDeleteBe sure to stop by my blog and portrait blog:
http://travisandjuliestandley.blogspot.com/
http://juliestandleyphotography.blogspot.com/
I am good at finding excuses why not to do something and thats bad :( But if there is lot od stuff I need to do then I make list that helps me to keep on track.
ReplyDeleteI feel you, darling. I have no motivation lately to do anything! Especially jogging and working out. I want to so bad (aka I need to), but I keep finding excuse after excuse to not to do it. Hmmp?!
ReplyDeleteI've FINALLY started getting into a good routine and I've found that two things really help: first, make sure you schedule whatever it is you want to do at a time that's best for you. For example, I LOATH working out. But I especially hate doing it in the mornings. Something about five-thirty is just my magic time - maybe because I know it'll be relaxing to get away from my work at that point and turn on the tv while I go at the treadmill? lol and doing my devotionals? Definitely a morning thing. For me, I need that good start to my day. But I was always always forgetting, so I finally started making it a habit to start a list every day of what I needed or wanted to accomplish. And - huzzah! I'm just ocd enough that I crave marking off each item with a bright yellow highlighter. VICTORY! ;)
ReplyDelete-giedre
ps. although I totally still struggle...and working out is the first to always fall on the wayside!
I am totally in the same boat as you right now. I know I can do all these things but I'm just not doing any of them and making up excuses! Motivation is definitely needed over here!
ReplyDeleteKels
Eat, Drink, Be a Tourist
As far as the working out early in the morning thing - start off by joining a YMCA or something. You can usually get discounted membership as a student, and you get free classes with your membership. I found that if I wanted to wake up early in the morning to work out, it helped me to be a part of a class (and it really helped to have a friend to go with) - that way, you feel a little more obligated to go, and if you have a friend with you, you'll feel bad bailing. Eventually, waking up at 5:00 will become habit, and your day will feel empty without your usual morning workout routine.
ReplyDeleteWow. Sorry for the novel!
Hey there! Just wanted to send along this encouragement, b/c (clearly, hehe) you're a woman of faith who reads scripture, b/c I was reminded of what Paul says in Romans 7:18-21 (I used the KJV), and b/c I totally identify with what you're expressing in this post! I hope it strengthens you today! :)
ReplyDelete"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
But how awesome and wonderful when Paul says a few verses later in 8:2-5
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit."
I love this because without Christ I'm so powerless to do good, but with the Spirit, we are free to live apart from the law and now the good I do is not of my own power, but Christ working in me.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
What an amazing gift we've been given! I hope this can brighten your day and encourage you. :)
Love your blog, btw! I read regularly, even though I don't always have time to comment!
Unfortunately I'm in the same place as you are right now. I find it so hard to motivate myself beyond doing my homework and going to work. Some days I have to push myself just to clean up around the house. I wish I had some advice for you, but I need some too.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to this!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite quotes is "The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want right now." (Zig Ziglar)
So true! I do it all the time, though. For me, the best way to overcome this is just to write down my goals or my to-do list and if I get that guilty feeling, like "Should I be doing something productive?", then I look at my list and try to refocus. It is so hard, though, sometimes.
I also have to be honest with myself. My husband goes to the gym every morning at 6 AM, he never misses because he knows that if he takes a day off, it will turn into a week off. Occasionally he'll ask me if I want to join him and I tell him straight, NOPE! I can't commit to waking up early enough to go and I need more time than he does to get ready for work, so it just doesn't make sense for me. :)
I hope you find a good balance. You're right, it's all about the progression and growth. And tomorrow is always a new day!
I know how ya feel girly, for the last week I was going to "wake up early in the morning & run"..or "run when I get off, so I can sleep in"..it's a vicious cycle, and if you ever figure out how to truly beat it, please help a Sista out! ;)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I am totally in the same place with you right now, it's ridiculous. I know some things that have helped me in the past with reading my scriptures or writing in my gratitude journal have been having someone do it with me, and we'll text each other everyday when we do it. It keeps you accountable and motivates you a little more because you know your friend is counting on you. :) Maybe we could do something like that as bloggers! I so need to work out...lol :P
ReplyDeleteSo true. Something that helps me is if I make my "breaks" productive. Like if I say I need a break, I can easily spend 2 hours online dinking around. BUT, if I say, okay after I finish this, I can watch this on TV or spend this much time blogging or whatever, it makes it easier. breaks and wasting time are different, so I have discovered.
ReplyDeleteBeen feeling the same here too. I actually played hookey today from work which I NEVER do because I just needed a day to recharge..I was just feeling so exhausted and overwhelmed by all the things I have been putting off at home and for the wedding, it was much needed!!
ReplyDeleteI am queen of the 'i'll do it tomorrow' excuse!
ReplyDeleteI am right there with you!
ReplyDeleteAmen.
ReplyDeleteI am dealing with this right now too girlie! Ever since I started blogging....my excuses have gotten worse and my priorities have shifted.....I mean heck! I am far behind in lesson plans! I need to get my act together :) Keep your head up cause you're doing great!
ReplyDeletewe need to carpool together so that way we have each other to keep company while we drop off and pick up the hubs' from school. make that same treck every day. we have two cars but we were just to lazy and cheap to get the tabs renewed on the other one. ha
ReplyDeletexo TJ
Welcome to life. Ha! I have days where EVERYTHING sounds hard. Getting up from my desk to pee sounds hard. But isn't it funny, the days that you can get up and run at 5am, you feel great, and things seem less hard throughout the day. The busier I am, the more efficient I am. It's weird... This was a way weird comment, not really a rhyme or reason, but there's my thoughts on this post :) Thanks for making me think Monster!
ReplyDeleteOh, boy! I'm the same way! Especially about working out. I actually do get up early to read The Bible every morning, but I can make a million and one excuses not to work out. And plenty of good reasons to eat pumpkin pie and drink coffee instead! My main reason right now = it's the season for it! Good one. haha! Good luck! Let me know if you find that cure! :)
ReplyDeleteBoy oh boy can I sympathize! Where Being straight up Lazy is one of my biggest hurdles. If you want it bad enough you can make it happen though!
ReplyDeleteMy motivation has been terrible the past few weeks. I feel like hibernating!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I do, when it comes to working out, is doing it as soon as I put my son on the bus. If I don't, I'll find excuses all day as to why I can't work out.
I know what you mean! I get so frustrated with myself when I don't get the things done that I really need to. Last night I did some organizing that I have been needing to do forever. It feel so good, but now on to the rest of the house! :)
ReplyDeletei totally know what you mean I have been feeling that way about life recently and I get so upset with myself. I guess time management is needed!! PS you look absolutely beautiful!!
ReplyDeletexo
Classic & Bubbly
Welcome to Provo! we are happy to have you here. Maybe we can be friends!
ReplyDeleteHello :)
ReplyDeleteYou look just like Hilary Duff in the first pic!! amazing ;)
xx
Hello :)
ReplyDeleteYou look just like Hilary Duff in the first pic!! amazing ;)
xx
you moved to provo? i am in provo! we should meet up!meet up! ps, i love your glasses!
ReplyDeleteGirl, I'm in the same boat (& I do hope you've found a way out of the boat...since this post is a little older.) I haven't figured out any tricks yet. I can't make myself wake up early because my husband looks so cute sleeping and it's so warm beside him. Nothing can make me get out of bed without him. (And he will not be waking up to work out, haha). And it's hard to make that extra time to read the Bible and study it. Even though it's so important....we are both part of a weekly Bible study (he's in a men's study and I'm in a lady's study) but we don't read together. It's hard because at the end of the day, we just want to talk and cuddle and spend time together. Not reading... :/ But our pre-marital counselor told me that couples who read the Bible together are like..70-some odd percent less likely to end in divorce.
ReplyDeleteThat should be motivation enough....but it's hard to make that extra time. Have you found any tricks since you've posted this?
P.S. - newest follower! Thank you for following my blog, as well! XOs