Motivation/High Stress Job

wojnarnl · December 2011

Hi knotties!
I am currently struggling to stick to a consistent schedule at the gym. I have had a tendency for the past two months to work very hard one week and then not make it to the gym at all the following (or only once); sometimes this slips to two weeks.

I have a very stressful/busy job as an elementary school counselor in a very high needs, low income part of Cleveland. I consistently work about 10 hours a day, not including the time I spend doing paperwork at home. If a kid has a crisis (i.e. suicidal/no home/abused), my work expands.

On those weeks, I feel like coming home and sitting on the couch! In general, I have very good eating habits. I also enjoy exercising and feel better when I am able to. I just feel like my energy level dips the second I walk out of my school!

I'm not looking to lose any major weight, I simply want to be healthy. Anyone else in my boat with a stressful/demanding job? How do you find motivation/energy to stay fit?

Thanks!

(feels good just to vent a little)

Rebansch · December 2011

I (sort of) know what you mean. I am a college student with 12 hours of class (and homework), 8 hours in a first grade classroom, and 8 hours of work per week. I've found that the best thing for me to do is to get up and work out early in the morning. I'm always exhausted and have to drag myself out of bed... but I know I'd be that tired anyways, so it doesn't really phase me to wake up an hour earlier! It gives me more energy throughout the day, and I don't have to plan the rest of my day around an after-class/work workout. It's great!

anna.oskar · December 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_motivationhigh-stress-job-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:4066d7a1-2761-4ba6-a694-7d0fc06cef50Post:8e1883b0-b7e9-4729-a495-9e47df1d9893">Re: Motivation/High Stress Job</a>:
[QUOTE]I (sort of) know what you mean. I am a college student with 12 hours of class (and homework), 8 hours in a first grade classroom, and 8 hours of work per week. I've found that the best thing for me to do is to get up and work out early in the morning. I'm always exhausted and have to drag myself out of bed... but I know I'd be that tired anyways, so it doesn't really phase me to wake up an hour earlier! It gives me more energy throughout the day, and I don't have to plan the rest of my day around an after-class/work workout. It's great!
Posted by Rebansch[/QUOTE]

i agree with this. Motivation is SO much easier in the morning when you're too tired to argue and already up anyway so you might as well do it. ;)

lbarr088 · December 2011

I hear ya! I wish I could do the early am work out but that would mean getting up at 4am. That's not happening. Just try and work out on a consistent basis a couple times a week. Don't get down on yourself for missing some workout sessions... my job also drains my energy so I often miss a few one week. If you are moving around during the day and aren't completely sedentary at a desk... I'd count that as some minor exercise

StephBeanWed61502 · December 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_motivationhigh-stress-job-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:238Discussion:4066d7a1-2761-4ba6-a694-7d0fc06cef50Post:19f26d71-c2d5-403a-81db-f224d51eb684">Motivation/High Stress Job</a>:
[QUOTE]Hi knotties! I am currently struggling to stick to a consistent schedule at the gym. I have had a tendency for the past two months to work very hard one week and then not make it to the gym at all the following (or only once); sometimes this slips to two weeks. I have a very stressful/busy job as an elementary school counselor in a very high needs, low income part of Cleveland. I consistently work about 10 hours a day, not including the time I spend doing paperwork at home. If a kid has a crisis (i.e. suicidal/no home/abused), my work expands. On those weeks, I feel like coming home and sitting on the couch! In general, I have very good eating habits. I also enjoy exercising and feel better when I am able to. I just feel like my energy level dips the second I walk out of my school! I'm not looking to lose any major weight, I simply want to be healthy. Anyone else in my boat with a stressful/demanding job? How do you find motivation/energy to stay fit? Thanks! (feels good just to vent a little)
Posted by wojnarnl[/QUOTE]

It sounds like you have an all-or-nothing approach to exercise that might be making it difficult for you to meet your own expectations. I am in a high-stress field as well (law), and when I set goals like "I'm going to work out for an hour every day this week," I'm basically setting myself up for failure, because it's too much on top of my already hectic schedule. However, I've had a lot more success when I set more manageable goals - for example "work out before work for 20-30 minutes three days a week, and take a long walk on the weekend." Also, I second the recommendation about working out in the morning - it's the only way I ever get a workout in.

entropicbeauty · December 2011

I'm not a morning person myself, but I find what keeps me motivated is that my FI and I work out together and we schedule what days we're going to go to the gym in advance. I try to do workouts at home on our "off" days as well, but those become trickier because I usually have a lot going on.

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