Time Change = lack of motivation?

[Celeste]

Is it just me, or does the time change make everyone feel yucky, cranky and unmotivated?

I have been such a slug this week and can't seem to get on my bike. The weather has not been great here this week and I have been relegated to my trainer. Did only 5 miles yesterday. Usually get in 15 miles before training ride day on Saturday when we do increasingly more each week.

I usually love to be on my bike! Can't wait to get home from work and get on it. Any day, rain or not. Trainer or outside. I love it.

But this week I have been so tired and Blah! feeling I just don't have the energy. Is it just me or do others feel this way too after the time change.

I am training for a century ride in early June and just have not been motivated this week at all. Ugh, I feel like a slug! How do I snap out of this?

Sorry to whine....thanks for listening.

[LBTC]

Celeste,

Lots of people I've talked to at my work take several days, even a week to adjust to the time change. I'm hoping that's all it is for you and a couple of good nights of sleep in the next few days will get you over it! I've read several people post about having a rest week while you're training. Take this as a rest week, let yourself rest because your body is telling you to - maybe do something lighter and gentler like walking or yoga just so you're still doing something because I know you want to.

Be nice to yourself. You deserve a break just as much as anybody!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Running Mommy]

Ahhhhh.. yet another reason to live in Arizona. We don't play that silly game!
I used to HATE it in California!! It took me forever. My body is a creature of habit.

And for all you zonie haters, yeah, yeah yeah... Heat index, blah blah blah...

[emily_in_nc]

Just the opposite here...yes, it's been hard getting up in the dark, but we've had a very warm week (upper 70s to low 80s for highs!) here in NC (getting MUCH colder tomorrow), and the extra light after work has been just the ticket! I haven't ridden (we're going on a sailing vacation next week, and I didn't want to risk a fall, being the crash queen and all.... ), but I've managed to do 3-mile trail runs two of the the past five nights and walked the other three nights. It's been such a pleasure being out in the light after work -- I'm more motivated than when it got dark earlier.

Maybe it depends on whether you're more of a morning or evening person? I am definitely the latter, so the extra light at night is great for me, even though the mornings are a bit of a drag. But once I take a shower and get moving, I feel okay even in the mornings.

Happy almost spring!

Emily

[Wahine]

I've had a tough week in terms of fatigue and motivation. I'm blaming it on the time change. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the race I was in last weekend.

[Celeste]

Thanks ladies! Glad I am not alone.

I got a really good nights sleep last night and forced myself to get up at a reasonable time this morning. I do feel better.

Yeah, I am ready to move to Arizona or Hawaii so I don't have to do this anymore.

Crazy how one hour makes such a difference in my body and sleep pattern. Sleep pattern seems to be very important to my sanity.

[Offthegrid]

I've been very bummed about the last two weeks, but for me I think it has to do a lot more with the weather. It's snowing/sleeting here something fierce, and I was really looking forward to getting on the road bike this weekend.

But it definitely does take me a while to get used to the time change in the spring. In the fall I never seem to have that problem.

[li10up]

I've loved the change. It gave me a chance to take a nice ride after work without having to worry about getting back before it got dark. I'm lovin' it!
I feel renewed. I think it's a combo of more daylight time after work, and spring and warmer temps coming. We've had a few beautiful days lately! I'm sure everyone will adjust in time.

[susiej]

Hating the change. It was just starting to get light when my alarm would go off ... now it's starting to get light when I leave the house.

[li10up]

Hating the change. It was just starting to get light when my alarm would go off ... now it's starting to get light when I leave the house.

I agree - it was MUCH easier to get up in the a.m. than it is now. But I'd much rather have the extra daylight after work to play than to take my shower and get ready for work.....when having to do that I couldn't care less what it was like outside. (I'm not a morning person)

[Starfish]

I think this is definitely a morning-person/night-person thing. I am a night person, and I LIVE for when it is lighter at the end of the day. Mornings are ugly for me no matter what.

[Aggie_Ama]

I am not enjoying it, but I think it is also because I have been pulling overtime at work. I am so drained when I get off I can't see straight. It is so nice after work but the only thing I have done this week is pull weeds. Hopefully this week I can use some of the nice weather and log some miles.

[Mr. Bloom]

Meeeee Toooooo!

Plus, I live in two different time zones!!!

[RoadRaven]

Hmmm... we've just gone the other way, its Autumn here... Spring forward/Fall back... so we have put our clocks back.

And I am having a real hard time adjusting... body still waking at the old time and so I am up at 4:45 - 5:30 (today it was 4am whenI woke for the day).

I feel exhausted and can't sleep.

I usually don't have any trouble adjusting one way or the other... but this time... whoa. Feeling a bit outta sorts here too!

[CycleSeashore]

I'm a night person too, and really looking forward to the light after work to start riding during the week again (outdoors). I don't mind the trainer, but it isn't the same.

I definitely notice the cranky irritable restless bit too. But that could be due to the massive snow/ice storm we had last weekend that is covering up the roads.

She Cycles by the Seashore
http://knitseashore.typepad.com/she_cycles/