Not in the “Mood”?
The marvelous “zero-effort” stretch
When your motivation vanishes —like a magician’s rabbit—it’s so tempting to:
😥 beat yourself up
😥 overhaul your plan
😥 quit altogether
🛑 STOP! 🛑
Here’s the truth:
Motivation is just a mood.
And like every mood or emotion, it naturally rises and falls.
Typically, it’s highest in January, right after the holidays and the start of the new year.
Then motivation fades as life settles in and your habits feel repetitive.
Often hitting its lowest point around March.
That’s normal, especially in midlife!
So instead of chasing your moody motivation, build simple routines and movement habits that you can still do, even on the days you don’t want to.
Momentum doesn’t come from willpower.
It comes from habits that are 👉 motivation-proof!
JUST ONE THING
Because “motivation” is just a moody emotion, you must have an antidote for those hard days when your motivation is in the tank.
Your JUST ONE THING to Overcome Moody Motivation
The Zero Effort Posture Stretch
It’s smart to keep a handful of moves in your “back pocket” that you know will instantly make you feel good.
And also requires zero effort and motivation to accomplish.
This aptly named stretch will do wonders for your posture.
AND your ✨ mood ✨!
I guarantee the moment you do this one, you’ll think:
“WOW! That felt ahh-mazing! I want to do more!”
And voila!
You just created some momentum to keep going.
Bonus: It can be done while sitting in a chair, so you can even do it right now!
Zero Effort Posture Stretch
- Sit at the edge of a chair, and lean forward, propping your knees open wide with your arms. You can even try to grab the inside of your ankles with hands.
- Reach and rotate one arm high up to the sky, squeezing your shoulder back and opening your chest as far out to the side as possible.
- Alternate, doing 3-4 reps/side.
Extra Tip: You can try this stretch up on your feet by squatting into your hips and using your elbows to “pry” your knees open. I love add this movement into a warm-up, too!
Did You Know...
- The vocabulary you use about fitness can impact your motivation to do it. “Working out” and even “exercise” can be negatively associated in our minds with something that’s going to be uncomfortable—while “feel-good movements” and “strengthening routine” can create positive, attractive associations.
- If you can shift your mindset and rewire your brain to believe that exercise “feels good”—that it’s not painful, dreadful, just sweaty, or miserable—then making it happen frequently and consistently is far easier.
- Doing something new and different is requires significantly more energy in the beginning than it will when it’s more familiar. So don’t try to do too many new things at once!
Until next week... Be strong💪
