Finding Motivation While Away From the Gym
Today marks a month and a half away from the gym. A month and a half of having zero access to gym equipment and almost zero motivation to workout. This time has been very uncertain and all the days seem to blur into one another. Before the stay-at-home order was enforced, I was in the gym four days a week; squatting, deadlifting, pressing, and benching but on March 23, 2020 when Albuquerque, NM was told to stay home I suddenly went from having a lifting schedule and day-to-day routine to having my routine taken away from me. This sudden change of pace and uncertainty made it hard to find the motivation to want to workout but I knew if I didn’t do something I would feel, blah. That is when I decided I needed to have a goal, something that was ambitious but also achievable and something that would keep me active during this time.
Even before quarantine started I really enjoyed walking. I figured that making a walking goal was something I could do while not having access to the gym and something that would get me outside, which I knew was very important for my mental health. On April 1, 2020 I made a goal of walking 140 miles by April 30th. Making this goal gave me a reason to get up and be active. I mapped out a route that averaged a little over 4 miles and everyday I got out and walked, no matter what the weather was. If you can believe it, it snowed in April, but I wore a few more layers and put in the miles. Some days if I found myself in a slump, I would walk twice a day just to get out and have a change of scenery. I ended up reaching my goal on April 24, 2020 but continued to walk whenever I got a chance, even in the craziness of moving I carved out time to take a little mental health walk. By the end of April I walked 172 miles which I am proud of.
With all of the stress and unknown during this time, I found an outlet that gave me something to work for. Setting a goal and finding something to work towards helped me stay motivated and active, and achieving it made me feel very accomplished. Find something to work towards during this time. Set a walking goal, set a goal to hit a new personal record set of push-ups or pull-ups, or maybe a goal to beat your best mile time. Find something that excites you and keeps you working hard until we can all get back to our normal routines!
-Brooke Mckahin