I think really of two different things when it comes to the term “motivation”. I think about motivation to exercise, and I think about motivation to care for my diabetes. For me and my brain, the diabetes motivation is a very far second to the motivation to exercise.
My friend posted yesterday this question: Diabetes motivates me to _____.
We were a bit serious and a bit silly with our various responses, but the next question I of course wonder about is: what happens when I’m pooped out on motivation?
I like a Kaiser commercial on the radio a few months ago where she is talking about motivation disappearing and what it might take is taking a good long look in the mirror.
But that probably isn’t enough for most of us with diabetes.
So what do we do?
George wakes me up “MOM MOM MOM MOM MOM I’M HUNGRY MOM” …it’s motivating.
As a personal trainer slash not a morning person who has woken up at 5am every day for almost seven years to (very first and very important: FEED GEORGE) lead a group of bootcampers at 6am, motivation is pretty important in my life. If I’m not motivated, how can I motivate someone else?
Bootcampers who miss the workout due to any number of (may I say feeble) reasons sometimes ask me how I stay motivated to be there every day. It’s sometimes very very simple: I’m motivated by responsibility: if I don’t show up with a plan, no one will get a good workout. Sometimes I’m motivated by other aspects of my life: if I don’t get up and run on a Saturday morning, I can’t go see the matinee that afternoon with my husband because I’ll have to squeeze in a run after lunch. Sometimes I’m motivated by sheer routine: I get up and do it because that’s what I do.
There is one that I don’t usually tell the average bootcamper, yet I hear a lot from other diabetic athletes: my diabetes motivates me to exercise because I have a much easier time managing my blood glucose when I exercise.
So, maybe it’s actually that I’m very lazy!
I find the same things hold true with my motivation to take care of my body and my diabetes: if I don’t take care of myself, no one else will step in and do it for me. Or, I’m motivated by the fact I want to be around and enjoy my life for a long time with my husband. Sometimes I’m even motivated by George’s hunger.
Most days, though: I take care of my diabetes because that’s what I do.
So call it motivation, call it routine, call it amazing or call it boring: I’ve got a lot of reasons for taking care of myself!! I like each source of motivation for different reasons, but I am glad I have each one—they have helped me accomplish a lot of what I have wanted to accomplish!
Great post Amy. That motivation issue is always one I wrestle with.
I like your approach of “it’s just what I do” – and have felt that in my own life at times. Pretty cool how that positive momentum can keep us rolling through the rough spots!
Thanks!