My motivation is seriously flagging

[bagpuss]

anyone else get periods like this ?

I want to get out on the bike and I know i will love it once I'm out there and I feel great when I return after a hard ride. I really feel a sense of achievement and satisfaction .

Why is it so difficult for me to get ready and go out ?

I find any excuse not to go. If it looks like rain or a bit blustery or overcast or I'm feeling a bit tired etc any excuse and thats it , I decide I'm not going out and its a huge sense of relief


Maybe I just need to stop whineing and making excuses ,kick myself up the butt and get out there . ....

Peanut.
1. Start off by been kind to yourself.Beating yourself up is a negitive.
2. As you have been ill ,listen to your body,let it fix its self.
3. Small rides are better than long ones.Ride with a mate.Chew the fat as you amble down the lanes.
4. You will come out of this.
5. Set yourself small goals.

 

[peanut]

I had a poor start to the year and really never got going, illness kept me of cycling to work the whole way for 2-3 months. Had to use train and bike . However just back my holidays been watching TDF on TV and feel ready to rock and roll. In fact want to nip to EBC and get myself some overshoes for the typical Uk summer.

go for it take a nice steady pootle somewhere flat and scenic and safe . Really enjoy your ride and it will hopefully rekindle your enthusiasm.

 

[peanut]

Peanut.
1. Start off by been kind to yourself.Beating yourself up is a negitive.
2. As you have been ill ,listen to your body,let it fix its self.
3. Small rides are better than long ones.Ride with a mate.Chew the fat as you amble down the lanes.
4. You will come out of this.
5. Set yourself small goals.

thanks bagpuss. Depression is an awful malaise its all pervading.
I have started to set some goals and targets as I did last year. I also make a huge 'jobs to do ' list and prioritise it with set dates for completion.

It all helps to get me going again. I need some nice endorphins

Just starting my annual accounts this morning and needed some fortitude so i baked a little cake and I'm stuffing it right now with a nice cuppa. Its so hot i'm burning my tongue

 

[vernon]

thanks bagpuss. Depression is an awful malaise its all pervading.
I have started to set some goals and targets as I did last year. I also make a huge 'jobs to do ' list and prioritise it with set dates for completion.

Been there done that and it doesn't work too well. Big to do lists are daunting and it's all to easy to be scared off by the never ending list.

Have a look at some of the web sites dealing with 'life hacking' and 'GTD' - getting things done.

My to do lists are short and manageable.

I also use the word 'no' when I'm asked to do more than I feel I can cope with.

The tool that's made a whole lot of difference to me is Google Calender I currently seem to be getting a 'quart of life' out of every pint pot because there are very few surprises in the next few months social and professional calender.

On the cycling front - I don't let much clash with a planned ride - only illness has got in the way this year.

 

[marinyork]

yeah but you went out the other night and did 130= miles for crissakes....... I don't do that much in a month
Things that experienced and fit cyclists like you think are really easy can be almost insurmountable to unfit riders like me.

last Sunday I got slaughtered by a 60 year old club cyclist weighing 7 stone on a basic hybrid in just 7 miles. Twiddling he rode away from me up a hill in a gusting headwind and by the time i'd got to the top he was completely out of sight.

I was faced with another 35 miles at that pace and I was practically throwing up after 7 miles .

I've given up the idea of joining a local club for the time being

I'm not really into the business of talking about me on your thread but this is not the case. I went on a cycle last night with some friends at an average speed of 7mph, when I used to go out with them more often in the past it was about 8.5mph. I am not in a cluby club at all, they are way too fast for me, rather like your "bombing along at 25mph" on the flat, I can't keep up, it's something I'd love to be able to do but I doubt will ever happen. The cycling organisation I cycle with (they do activism as well) tend to have an average speed of around 9-10mph. The CTC mid range rides have an average speed of 10-11mph. CC rides can be more challenging routes at the same or higher average speed. If there aren't any of these options to you then I think that is not so good. However, I would like to think that you'd find people that would do that sort of ride in your kind of area on CC.

 

[peanut]

Been there done that and it doesn't work too well. Big to do lists are daunting and it's all to easy to be scared off by the never ending list.

Have a look at some of the web sites dealing with 'life hacking' and 'GTD' - getting things done.

My to do lists are short and manageable.

I also use the word 'no' when I'm asked to do more than I feel I can cope with.

The tool that's made a whole lot of difference to me is Google Calender I currently seem to be getting a 'quart of life' out of every pint pot because there are very few surprises in the next few months social and professional calender.

On the cycling front - I don't let much clash with a planned ride - only illness has got in the way this year.

good advice Vernon. with my to do lists I break them down into inside /outside then into rooms.

I then tackle one room per week or fortnight and complete all the jobs on the list. Then the next room etc.

I also have daily tasks and appointments which i prioritise and carry forward when necessary.

Re-prioritising every day gets the important things done like I'm supposed to be doing the accounts for one of my companies today for submission Thursday and what am I doing ?

I'mm on CC of course

 

[threefingerjoe]

I know the feeling of not being able to get motivated. My problem is that since I tend to view the bike as "transportation", I feel that I MUST have a destination. I ride to work every day, regardless of the weather, (-18 one day last winter) and ride in ice and snow. I will ride the bike whenever I need to go anywhere within a reasonable distance (doctor, dentist, eye-doctor, barber, parent's house, in-laws' house, etc.) I enjoy a 50 mile ride on a Sunday with friends. BUT...just to get on the bike and ride alone, just to ride? It's a rare day that I can get motivated to do that. Just too lazy, I guess.