Lack of Motivation

[redrhodie]

Hi! Welcome! One thing that keeps me riding is keeping it simple. I get up, get dressed, pump my tires, and I'm off. It's part of my routine. I don't drive to ride, I just get up and go. I don't vary my routes much. I'm lucky to live in a beautiful place for cycling, and I'm not easily bored by the same routes.

cycling_sarah has been a big motivator to me, too! I'm off to meet her right now! Knowing she's waiting for me makes me a little faster in the morning, too!

[kfergos]

Good for you coming through your hard time and even wanting to get back into cycling. I know you can!

The only way I keep riding is because it's part of my routine. If I varied my activity too much, I wouldn't be able to keep it up. I know it's hard, but you probably already know that it takes about 6 weeks to establish something as a habit. If you can routinely work cycling into your life for the next 6 weeks -- even when you don't feel like it, and even if it's only a little bit, as the ladies mentioned above -- after that it'll start feeling more natural.

[greycoral]

I know you were a big cyclist before you got sick, maybe that's part of what's holding you back? Do you feel overwhelmed with the thought of having to do long rides? Maybe you're remembering how much energy it took or how tired you were. I say, ride for fun. Around the block. Down to the store. Whatever it takes. Don't focus as much on training or longer things, just go as much as your body wants to, even if it's only once a week! You might never get back to what you were doing before, but I think once you get the ball rolling, on a smaller scale, you might find your love for it again.

[sundial]

Hi Janice, it's nice to have you here.

There's an ebb and flow to the healing process. Sometimes our bodies are not quite through and ask for a little longer break. You'll know when it's time to get back on the bike.

[Karma007]

Ride somewhere. For example, choose to ride to the coffee shop, or thriftstore, or movies or something. As much as I love to ride because I love to ride, sometimes having a purpose is just fun.

[SouthernBelle]

This is a tough time of year to re-start too; so much going on. Maybe just do some "fiddling around" rides between now and the new year. Use that time to put together a plan for the new year.

HTH,

[sundial]

What is fun about this time of year are night rides. Maybe noodle around the neighborhood and look at the Christmas lights?

[Tater]

Ride somewhere. For example, choose to ride to the coffee shop, or thriftstore, or movies or something. As much as I love to ride because I love to ride, sometimes having a purpose is just fun.

This is close to how I got back into riding after totally losing motivation for cycling over the summer. I just started by doing short errands on my bike and after a couple weeks, I found myself wanting to go longer. I had my mojo back and all it took was some simple, easy paced, around town errands.

Don't put pressure on yourself, you'll be back on the bike when your mind and body are ready.