Tips for maintaining willpower?

[lisa94xo]

I've really let myself go recently now that I'm working remotely from home / lockdown etc. I'm 5ft3 and 14 stone - I was just over 11 stone this time last year.

Every night before bed I set my alarm early with good intentions of doing a workout video online, household chores, getting ready etc before I start work. But 9 times out of 10 I hit snooze, get out bed 5 minutes before I'm due to log on and stay in my pyjamas all day. The rare times I do make the effort I feel so much better, and even go for a walk on my lunch break. I know this and yet I keep repeating the same pattern. I live with my boyfriend and we're prone to getting takeaways/snacking - I think boredom plays a huge part in this, too.

What do you do to motivate yourself / maintain willpower to stick to a routine? I really want to get in a better place, both mentally and physically.

 

[Sprottish]

I would try not to do so much at once! It can easily become overwhelming if you try and do everything perfectly all at once. Take the pressure off yourself, rather than trying to do it ALL, eat well, work out, do chores - take it easy. If you get up and get dressed for the day then that's a win. Heck even if you eat 10 biscuits instead of 11 like the previous day take it as a win, and gradually try and get into it as a habit.

Boredom is definitely a big thing for me too. You know what i've found has helped me - a jigsaw. Hear me out...keeps your hands busy, weirdly quite therapeutic, can pass time without the mindless munching that usually comes with TV etc.

 

[lisa94xo]

I would try not to do so much at once! It can easily become overwhelming if you try and do everything perfectly all at once. Take the pressure off yourself, rather than trying to do it ALL, eat well, work out, do chores - take it easy. If you get up and get dressed for the day then that's a win. Heck even if you eat 10 biscuits instead of 11 like the previous day take it as a win, and gradually try and get into it as a habit.

Boredom is definitely a big thing for me too. You know what i've found has helped me - a jigsaw. Hear me out...keeps your hands busy, weirdly quite therapeutic, can pass time without the mindless munching that usually comes with TV etc.

Thank you! I've never thought of that - I can always slowly build up to things. I guess I just want a quick fix but these things take time!
I'll definitely check out jigsaws - I do have a lack of hobbies now we're restricted (before Covid I would go hiking and loved going to the cinema and for drinks with friends). Especially as it's dark so early now; after work there's not a lot to do bar watch TV and snack! Having something like that to focus on and challenge me might help - thanks!

 

[flamingo29]

I don’t really have much in terms of tips but I can relate.. I was similar when I first started WFH, I would have pancakes/bacon sandwiches for breakfast everyday and lots of snacks, I would go days without leaving the house and I was just getting out of bed, shoving some leggings on and logging on without sorting my appearance out and never going on camera even at night I couldn’t be bothered to sort my skin out or anything.

I lost a stone between Jan and March last year so I was gutted when I put almost all of it back in lockdown
I think when it became more of a reality that we wouldn’t be back in the office any time soon I realised I couldn’t carry on living like a slob, I found looking at old pictures really helped motivate me to start looking after myself again and also some threads on here helped me start a skincare routine and now I’m obsessed and couldn’t imagine not doing my skincare twice a day..
I always get up now and make sure I sort my hair and makeup out before I log on, it also means I can just get up and go for a walk at lunch time which I think was stopping me before because I didn’t want to go out looking like I did.
In terms of eating that is still not perfect but I’m taking small steps to improve it, such as having something light like fresh grapefruit and orange for breakfast so at least one meal a day is good, it helps me maintain my weight at least rather than gaining it

 

[LaurieLaurie]

Get up and showered, eat breakfast and do your work. Leave the workout until the evening.
I exercise at 6pm so it’s not easily forgotten because it’s at a set time.

 

[Mamacita]

I would try not to do so much at once! It can easily become overwhelming if you try and do everything perfectly all at once. Take the pressure off yourself, rather than trying to do it ALL, eat well, work out, do chores - take it easy. If you get up and get dressed for the day then that's a win. Heck even if you eat 10 biscuits instead of 11 like the previous day take it as a win, and gradually try and get into it as a habit.

Boredom is definitely a big thing for me too. You know what i've found has helped me - a jigsaw. Hear me out...keeps your hands busy, weirdly quite therapeutic, can pass time without the mindless munching that usually comes with TV etc.

I second this, don't try to do too much at once. Try having no zero days, every day you do something, even just one small thing to better yourself and even if it's something miniscule, it's still better than nothing.
Try not to have all or nothing mindset, eg. I messed up today and didn't get up early so might as well give up for the rest of the day kind of thing.

With working out, don't force yourself to do workouts you don't enjoy. Walking is already a great exercise, 30-60 minute walk a day is a good start, and you can build up from there rather than try to force yourself to do harder workouts, get bored or discourages and give up.

With takeaways and snacking, don't need to stop completely either but maybe instead of takeaway, try making something nice at home-always ends up less calories and healthier than takeaway but still nice. Get some healthier snacks, I find popcorn to be great if you like it as you can eat quite a lot of it and it's not that many calories so you can still lose weight. Or there are different low kcal ice creams now, fruit is always a good option, fibre One bars, Yoghurts etc.

AAnd finally, you said you always feel better when you do all those things like going for a walk- think more about how much better you will feel if you do. Sometimes I really can't be bothered exercising but even if I do half of my standard workout I'll feel way better than doing nothing and I now conditioned myself to know that. Similarly I now rather chose healthy food as it does make me feel much better.

 

[Milliehaha123]

Agree with the above!
I am not a morning person and so I don’t try and achieve too much (aka a workout) at this time- let yourself have small pleasures, we are after all going through a pandemic! Allow yourself to snooze if this is a small comfort but make sure you do a workout / walk later in the day at a set time. I do 5.30 as I like finishing work by a certain time, closing my laptop and being done for the day. I find it helps me close off a bit.

I also do a big Sainsbury’s shop once a week and I buy myself ‘healthy snacks’ for Monday - Thursday- fruit, cucumber and dip (low fat lol), Cereal bars (nature valley are actually excellent and not full of hidden tit) and eat these. I buy myself one treat snack for Friday (chocolate bar, popcorn etc) and I find it works really well with not being starving but not feeling like I’m gorging on crap!

Hope these help- I’m defo not perfect but I think getting into a small routine does help! X

 

[lisa94xo]

Thank you so much for all your help and advice, everyone

 

[mcfeez]

Try and get out of the house everyday for a walk - I used to walk to work 30 mins there and 30 mins back everyday and so WFH was initially a struggle for me. But it really does make you feel better and, for me, breaks up the work day too.

Good habits will be built with a more a solid foundation if you build them over time. Try and introduce a new one this week, see how it goes and then maybe introduce something else next week, then something else the week after - all small changes.

 

[LouLou5]

We still go walking in the dark, we have 4 kids and still try and fit in an hour walk before bed when we can. We wrap up and head out, kids love it. We are a pretty active family but my biggest vice is definitely wine . I'm going to try and fo dry January which would be a massive accomplishment because I usually drink every day. It was my birthday today and I didn't have a drink so I'm so proud of myself even though it's only a little thing but just doing it made me feel better. I'm trying to break the evening up a bit, have dinner, kids bedtime, have a soft drink, have a cup of herbal tea etc and then without realizing it, it's bedtime and I haven't had a wine. Really hoping to stick at it

 

[Chocolatelover123]

Aww I completely understand I’ve been there myself, the first lockdown I was really productive at first as I was clinging onto thinking I would be able to get married later in the year! I actually lost weight and felt really good then once we postponed the wedding that was it I’ve put the weight back on and more I agree with what everyone has said above and echo some of my own below

- don’t set working out in the morning if that’s not for you, when you’ve worked out before was it in the morning? If not don’t put unrealistic pressure on yourself find the time that best for you. I personally can’t workout in the morning I try and fail
- start small if you just have a shower and get dressed before work that’s fine and you’ll feel so much better for it. As you feel better you’ll be more inclined to do things like go for a walk
- I find walking before work or lunch really helps me and i come back more productive.

I know how you feel with your boyfriend and food, my husband has a really active job and barely has time to eat at work so he can then come home and and eat whatever he wants and get away with it. Meanwhile I can’t try talking to him and explain how you feel. Like others say keeping busy also helps I find I eat less I’m busy at work or getting into a good book or just boring housework

 

[PenelopePitstop]

I've really let myself go recently now that I'm working remotely from home / lockdown etc. I'm 5ft3 and 14 stone - I was just over 11 stone this time last year.

Every night before bed I set my alarm early with good intentions of doing a workout video online, household chores, getting ready etc before I start work. But 9 times out of 10 I hit snooze, get out bed 5 minutes before I'm due to log on and stay in my pyjamas all day. The rare times I do make the effort I feel so much better, and even go for a walk on my lunch break. I know this and yet I keep repeating the same pattern. I live with my boyfriend and we're prone to getting takeaways/snacking - I think boredom plays a huge part in this, too.

What do you do to motivate yourself / maintain willpower to stick to a routine? I really want to get in a better place, both mentally and physically.

Jigsaw definitely.... also what about signing up to walk my doggy... that will give you a target a hours brisk walk will use nearly 10,000 steps and even better walking someone’s furry friend to keep you motivated... Meal planning is a big must.. I prep 3 days worth of food on a Sunday... homemade soup... salads... researching recipes will keep you busy...

 

[legsbumsandtums]

I've really let myself go recently now that I'm working remotely from home / lockdown etc. I'm 5ft3 and 14 stone - I was just over 11 stone this time last year.

Every night before bed I set my alarm early with good intentions of doing a workout video online, household chores, getting ready etc before I start work. But 9 times out of 10 I hit snooze, get out bed 5 minutes before I'm due to log on and stay in my pyjamas all day. The rare times I do make the effort I feel so much better, and even go for a walk on my lunch break. I know this and yet I keep repeating the same pattern. I live with my boyfriend and we're prone to getting takeaways/snacking - I think boredom plays a huge part in this, too.

What do you do to motivate yourself / maintain willpower to stick to a routine? I really want to get in a better place, both mentally and physically.

Seeing the number on the scales was enough for me this morning.

Create a plan & set small goals. Do a food plan. Take before pictures. Have a picture of you at your happy weight to hand to look at to see why you're doing this. Good luck.

 

[lisa94xo]

We still go walking in the dark, we have 4 kids and still try and fit in an hour walk before bed when we can. We wrap up and head out, kids love it. We are a pretty active family but my biggest vice is definitely wine . I'm going to try and fo dry January which would be a massive accomplishment because I usually drink every day. It was my birthday today and I didn't have a drink so I'm so proud of myself even though it's only a little thing but just doing it made me feel better. I'm trying to break the evening up a bit, have dinner, kids bedtime, have a soft drink, have a cup of herbal tea etc and then without realizing it, it's bedtime and I haven't had a wine. Really hoping to stick at it

Happy birthday for yesterday!

 

[jazyblu]

You just have to force yourself to do it. If you wait on getting natural motivation to wake up early and do a work out/clean the house it will never come. Discipline is often confused with motivation but they are not the same.

 

[birdiefly246]

I would say have less goals. I do the exact same thing where I want to be superwoman. I'm going to get up early and go out for a long walk, then come back, do a workout, not do this, do this, make sure I do this blah blah blah. It's too overwhelming and then I feel like even more of a failure when I've just laid in bed until 11am instead.

I would say start slower. So maybe you want to have a daily walk so start with that and just that. It takes 21 days to make or break a habit and the hardest bit is starting. Previous posters are right, motivation is superficial, it comes in spades and then leaves just as quick. You need discipline to start doing the thing that you have the motivation for in the first place.

What I do when I feel like I'm useless is write down something small I accomplished that day. So like today, I rang around and cancelled a bunch of stuff (tickets etc) that I needed to do. Okay I didn't get up til late, haven't done my workouts but I have done something that needed doing.

I would also say with things like workouts and losing weight, it's a lot harder when you feel like you "need" to. When you're doing something cause you want to, the rest falls into place.

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

You just have to force yourself to do it. If you wait on getting natural motivation to wake up early and do a work out/clean the house it will never come. Discipline is often confused with motivation but they are not the same.

This ^^^^ you need to make stuff a habit. I think they say it takes 66 days to do this.

 

[OrangeSweatshirt]

Willpower is bs....it rarely works & only for a certain type personality....set up your environment instead. Its probably setting yourself up for failure to plan morning workouts in freezing dark winter so aim for quality sleep. At lunchtime why not put on your workout gear & be ready for after work so its less of an effort then. Pick exercise types you enjoy and variety. Track calories to increase awareness of intake for a while. We too ate our way through three lockdowns & wfh...but we countered it with exercise....walks, put some equipment in the spare room, do some online workouts, design our own.Dont rely on waiting on someone else to come for a session with you, if theyre not up for it, youre scuppered. Get a playlist ready or podcast in your earphones and do your thing, make it me-time. At the moment ive set a countdown timer to when i think i'll be able to fly to a sunny beach and im working on beach bod....sure it could be 18months away but its August 4th in my imagination now...i ordered a new bikini for my august 4th imaginary holiday even

 

[LouLou5]

Thank you! I've never thought of that - I can always slowly build up to things. I guess I just want a quick fix but these things take time!
I'll definitely check out jigsaws - I do have a lack of hobbies now we're restricted (before Covid I would go hiking and loved going to the cinema and for drinks with friends). Especially as it's dark so early now; after work there's not a lot to do bar watch TV and snack! Having something like that to focus on and challenge me might help - thanks!

I did dry Jan and didn't change anything else and found it easy to only focus on one thing. I didn't stress about diet or exercise but just didn't drink ( which was a massive thing for me!). I think life is too hard right now to overhaul your lifestyle but maybe focus on one thing? Like a healthy dinner every night or no take aways for a month? You will lose a few pounds and start in the right direction xx

Thank you! I've never thought of that - I can always slowly build up to things. I guess I just want a quick fix but these things take time!
I'll definitely check out jigsaws - I do have a lack of hobbies now we're restricted (before Covid I would go hiking and loved going to the cinema and for drinks with friends). Especially as it's dark so early now; after work there's not a lot to do bar watch TV and snack! Having something like that to focus on and challenge me might help - thanks!

I did dry Jan and didn't change anything else and found it easy to only focus on one thing. I didn't stress about diet or exercise but just didn't drink ( which was a massive thing for me!). I think life is too hard right now to overhaul your lifestyle but maybe focus on one thing? Like a healthy dinner every night or no take aways for a month? You will lose a few pounds and start in the right direction xx