Motivation

I have to admit there have been a few occasions in recent weeks where my enthusiasm for the morning run has waned.  The night was too short; the duvet too cosy; the morning too dark and/or wet.  Why on Earth would I want to go for a run instead of snuggling down for another hour's sleep?

In last term's psychology class we discussed motivation.  We looked at extrinsic motivators (i.e. external factors, for example raising money for a good cause) and intrinsic motivators (i.e. internal factors, such as the desire to achieve).  We also looked at various theories which correlated perceptions of effort, reward and achievability of goal.  These all look good on paper - but how do they help me swap the warm cocoon of my bed for the wet/cold/dark physical exertion of a run?

I recently read an article which said that motivation can be a barrier to achieving a goal - by convincing ourselves that we have to feel like doing something we're adding an extra hurdle.  In reality we don't have to feel like doing something - we just have to do it.  Similarly, my training guide says that a change in behaviour can precede a change in attitude, i.e. by making morning runs part of my routine behaviour my attitude will soon change to accept the behaviour as normal, thereby motivating myself to run.

Basically: just do it!

I hope you have a Happy New Year - here's hoping that 2013 is a happy, healthy and successful year.  And good luck with making New Year's resolutions habitual behaviours.