How to get active and have more work-life harmony
“I just don’t feel like it. I’m so tired after work, I don’t have the energy.”
I get it. And lots of times I feel that way too. LOTS of times.
Especially Fridays. And Mondays, obviously. But Wednesdays can be rough too. And any time there’s a full moon.
Or a break coming up.
Or a break has just ended.
Or Mercury is in retrograde…
You get the idea.
This is the eighth post in a series about how to make teaching feel like a more SUSTAINABLE career.
The focus of this post: SUSTAINABLE
Action comes first, Motivation second
Now, maybe you’re some kind of exception to the rule (in that case - yay YOU) but a lot of my clients and the teachers I chat with tell me they struggle with motivation.
They tell me that they know what they need to do and want to do but can’t seem to connect the dots and do those things.
And they really wish they could. But it’s a challenge to make it happen which is frustrating and sucks their energy.
A big part of making teaching feel sustainable is focusing on yourself and your wellness, not just your classroom connections, instruction, and behavior management.
It means putting yourself first. And specifically, putting physical activity or “joyful movement” first.
Even when you don’t feel like it.
You don’t have the time.
And you’re stressed.
Because you usually won’t feel like it (at least at first) and there will always be something else vying for your time.
Consider this.
Marathon runners DO NOT always feel like running. Seriously.
They don’t glide out of bed, into their Asics, full of piss and vinegar every morning.
Nope. Not true.
Sometimes they feel like running, sure. But sometimes they don’t.
The difference is that their identity as a runner and someone who shows up for themselves is stronger than the discomfort when they don’t feel like moving their body.
To put it simply: They may not feel like it but they do it anyway.
Once they get going, Beyonce blasting into their ears, they start getting pumped up.
The smells of salt air and freshly cut grass create a familiarity and their body settles into a rhythm. Within minutes of starting, they remember why they’re doing this.
And THAT’S when the motivation hits and they keep going.
Action comes first, and Motivation second.
Which is usually how it happens for most of us. And it’s not just about physical activity.
Do you think every amazing writer ALWAYS feels like writing?
No, they don’t.
Writing is HARD, even for those who love it.
Sometimes you’re out of ideas or full of self-doubt and you come up with every excuse to put it off.
But, if you’re a writer, you write. Even when you’d rather do anything else and you feel like what you’re writing is utter garbage. Because it’s about doing the thing that moves you closer to being the person you want to be, even when you don’t feel like doing the thing.
Think about it.
If people always felt motivated to run or write every day - would running a marathon or authoring a book have the same level of prestige?
I don’t think so.
Part of what makes being a marathon runner or a published author special is that these are not things everyone can say about themselves.
They take work.
Consistency.
Persistence.
Dedication.
Perseverance.
You know what it’s like to skip a workout because you’d rather do something that takes less energy (and so that’s what you do). Someone who’s put in the time and training to complete a marathon - you can only imagine what that level of commitment is like if you’ve never done it.
But now you know the secret (or that there isn’t a secret). They just keep showing up for themselves even when they don’t feel like it.
Maybe they do a shorter run or a walk some days. But they can’t skip too many days and still be prepared for the run (or ever expect to finish writing the book).
So it’s up to you to choose. “I just don’t feel motivated these days” may be true, but is it moving you closer to the person you want to be?
That’s rhetorical.
When you can embrace the fact that it is 100% possible to take action on something without feeling like it, you're not paralyzed by the absence of motivation anymore.
It’s empowering.
You're not waiting for motivation to strike so that you can act.
You know it may or may not show up - but that you can do what you want in its absence (knowing full well, it usually does show up and helps you keep going - just doesn’t always help you get started).
And why does all this matter?
If you’ve been feeling like you want more harmony between your work life and your home life, a huge part of that is self-care.
And a huge part of self-care is moving your body because it’s so good for you.
You gain focus which helps you be more productive in other areas
It boosts your mood and energy level
And you get a magical dose of chemicals flooding your brain, protecting you from anxiety and depression AND helping you sleep better
Plus feelings of pride, confidence, and strength that come with being the kind of person who moves her body, even when she doesn’t feel like it
But how, you ask?
I won’t get into the science and mechanics of the “Habit Loop” in this post, but the short answer is to make it more FUN or make it EASIER.
Here’s a quick list of ideas to get you started:
Pick a time to move your body when your brain is LEAST likely to put up a fuss and come up with excuses
Rope in a friend to join you or get your kid to remind you to take them for a bike ride or a walk after school
Use a timer, set reminders, put it on your calendar, use Post-It notes on your mirror - but remind yourself of when you plan to move your body today to make it more likely to happen
Create the most epic playlist that makes you want to move
Track your progress - use an app and track your steps or go analog and create your own sticker chart - seeing your progress is a nice little reward and confidence booster
Come up with a no-fail way to move your body and DO THAT when you’re really not feeling it (think laying on the floor and stretching for 5 minutes). When you’re just getting started - taking baby steps can help build up your habit muscle.
Pair movement with something else you enjoy like a funny podcast or a watch a trashy show while you’re on your treadmill
Reward yourself with some more self-care - an early bedtime and a few pages of your book, that sticker chart, high fives from your whole family - whatever makes you smile and aligns with this identity of someone who consistently puts herself first - do that
Go digital and join one of those virtual walking challenges. Build your activity habit AND get an actual medal shipped to you when you finish the challenge. My son and I are doing one now and it’s kinda fun! His is Scooby-Doo themed and mine is a walk around New York City.
Try something new to keep things fresh and so you don’t risk boredom. There are a gazillion apps and YouTube videos - so use them. Try kickboxing, synergy, Zumba or belly dancing. There may be something out there you’d LOVE and you don’t even know it yet.
What becomes possible when you picture yourself taking action first, even when you don’t feel like it?
Before you go and sign up to run a marathon - I want to leave you with a final thought.
This is not about pushing through at all costs.
You’re a human being and there has to be flexibility and self-compassion.
What this is really about is recognizing which choices lead you closer to being the person you want to be and which move you further away.
And acknowledging that you have the power to choose. Waiting to “feel like it” is an option - but doing something that’s good for you (whether you feel like it or not) - is an option too. And it’s up to you to choose.
If it’s been a goal to make yourself and your wellness a priority, click here to focus on putting yourself first each week.
