How do you stay Motivated?

Originally posted by ande just show up to practice as often as you can show up if you can only swim for 30 minutes show up if you're 30 minutes late. the little you do will connect you to your next practice when ever that will be. Do what you can while you're there I swim 6:30 am - 8:00 am not much else happens then Remind yourself of the reasons why you swim what you will gain if you do and what you will lose if you don't have training partners be accountable Start your training thread, right here right now and be accountable to us. Get your butt back in the pool Swim on, ande Ande, you should write a book. You always seem to have the right things to say in a no-nonsense kind of fashion. Most of it is elementary but sometimes people overlook the elementary in search of something that is much more complicated.

Each lap motivates me further!

Originally posted by jswim I live in Oklahoma, and there is no Masters team, or coach to speak of here, in Oklahoma City anyway, which can be frustrating. For awhile it looked like our YMCA was going to start a Masters team, but it seemed to fizzle out, and the guard that was going to coach got a job elsewhere...(also frustrating), this was a dissapointment to say the least. Have you tried down at the OU pool in Norman? I used to swim there, and there was often a good group of people there (and it's tucked far away enough from the other buildings that parking isn't a pain in the rear). It might also be a good place to look for others interested in forming a Masters team - a number of grad students, faculty and staff work out there. Kae (OU Grad College, class of '00).

yeah.. I know you're right.. Ultimately I know I need to just bite the bullet and get back to it. I was perhaps hoping someone had some magic beans that I could take?.. lol, anyway, thanks for the post.. I'm off to swim at lunch! And THIS TIME....... I'm going to keep at it! :cool:

Motivation is hard in all sports, especially with work, family, church etc that all demand more attention. If you have a passion for the sport losing motivation is harder. But, it still will happen, it's inevitable every now and again. My motivation is when I hear the two most beautiful words in the English language - fried chicken. Without motivated swimming, those two words could not be uttered.

I believe that without goals, you will hit the "wall" much sooner and more often. A goal to "just workout" is very vague and won't keep you in the right frame of mind to keep at it when the "going gets tough". Get with your coach and talk with him/her about goals that are realistic and appropriate for what you're struggling with. Jim

I have the same issue: something will happen and then I fall out of the habit of getting to practice... All I can suggest is to just get on with it and force yourself back in... Having said that, sometimes we need a break mentally and physically, so maybe a taper once in awhile is good... Now get in the water!! :p

Mine is pretty simple:I just love swimming, that is my passion.Regardless of what I have going on(work, school, etc.) I always have time for the pool, every day.You just need to WANT to do it, there will be no problem swimming regularly then... You can't have a "I have to" approach , that won't work, you need a "I cannot be without it" attitude, that will surely keep you in the water...

I think the key is not to push yourself for too hard for too long. If you don't feel like going because you don't have time for a full workout - just get in the water and do a warm-up. I've been swimming five days a week for six months now and I have the same concern you have. Once my life gets more chaotic (I'm an independent filmmaker) I'm simply not going to have the time. Make a mental agreement that this is fine. Your commitment to swimming is not to exercise by a certain amount, but to swim as often or as long as time or your health will allow. If during up times you can improve your technique or speed - do that too. If you push yourself too hard it gets tough to continue when things stop going the way you imagined they should be going. Once you get in the "I screwed up" state of mind and deem yourself a failure you have to pull yourself up. If your agreement with yourself has a clause for slow days, weeks or months you'll be much better off mentally.

Hi Jeanette - Great question! I think the replies that you're recevied so far indicate that the ways to stay motivated are as individual as the person trying to be motivated. I know that for me swimming is a huge stress reliever. If I didn't swim (or workout) I would go crazy and drive everyone in a one mile radius of me crazy too! When I'm having one of "those days" my boss will very gently say, "maybe you should hit the pool today.....?" I make swimming a priority and I find a way to work it into my schedule. I work full time and go to school in the evening nearly full time; and I have a husband and house to keep up...and once in a while some kind of social life but everyone in my life knows that I take that hour or two a day and get to the pool. So out of 24 hours that one or hours is totally mine. I'm a better wife, employee, friend, sister etc. for it and I'm better to myself too. I looked at my average day and said, "when can I fit this in?" and if it means I get up at 5:30 to do it, I will (though many times I have hit the snooze button...!) Hang in there! Exercise is one of the very best things you can do for you! Also - I compete in meets so that keeps me motivated all on its own. :)