I mean, hasn’t life been a bit of a slump lately? Too general? Alright, your life is amazing. I’m happy for you. 😉 

For the rest of us, the going has been tough. I think I can leave it at that. Reading the news every morning makes me nervous because 2020 keeps finding fresh ways to make things terrible, like the entire west coast being on fire now. But most of the time, a slump is just a slump, not a general life depression, so let’s focus on that. 

When I thought about this topic, I was like, “Yeah, getting out of a slump. No problem. Not currently in a slump but have definitely been in slumps in the past, so I must know how to get out of a slump.” And then the word “slump” had no meaning. Slump. 

I think the issue I’m having is that there are lots of causes to … ruts, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Sometimes it’s a lack of motivation. Sometimes it’s due to a lack of a goal. I will share what has worked for me, with some caveats, as usual. 

Basically, I push through. 

But let me explain. I try to push through with compassion for myself, knowing that I really do feel better AFTER I exercise. Often, when I’m in a low place, making myself go takes as much energy as the run, but I never regret it once it’s over. Here are some things to tell yourself to help motivate you to get up and go: 

• “I never regret a run after I’ve done it.” 

• “I’ll start out with a mile (or 2 miles, or whatever seems like a totally doable distance but still gives you a good workout) and see how I feel.” 

• “I’m worth this effort.” 

• “I want to be healthy, and this run is part of that goal.”

• “I want to run 4 (5? 6?) days this week, so I had better go today.”

• “I want to achieve [insert specific goal here] in [insert amount of time here], so to be prepared I need to start now/stay on plan. 

A couple of things about this list of statements. First, some of these necessitate forethought. Sit down and make a goal if motivation is a problem for you. Tell other people your goal. It’s not bragging – it’s accountability. If you tell other people you’re doing something, you’re more likely to do it. Better yet, get someone to do it with you, and then you have an accountability partner. Second, you might recognize that last bullet point as a SMART goal. Setting really specific goals works well in athletics because of the stats and amount of measurable markers along the way. Take advantage of this. Finally, cheesiness does not matter when it comes to your health. Saying you’re worth the effort isn’t cheesy if it gets you to go. And who cares? If someone is downplaying your methods to get exercise, especially if those methods WORK for you, that person is not in your corner. 

Now, not to completely negate everything I’ve just said, sometimes a slump hits because you need a break or a change. Keeping in mind that not all gyms are open and other methods of exercise might not be available to you at this time, look for other options. If you need a break for a day or two, listen to your body and give yourself some time. If you need to run at a different time of day, maybe you try an evening run if you’re usually a morning person or vice versa. That could be enough to change your perspective on things. Longer walks, if you have the time, are also a possibility. Try to cover the same distance, just more slowly.

There are also workout apps or other at-home workout options that can be massively different than a run but still give a great workout, offering anything from HIIT workouts to yoga. I have several friends who are Beachbody coaches and love those programs. They cost some money to sign up but seem like good workouts. I also used the Daily Burn app to get out of a couple of slumps doing one-month free trials. I think it’s $20/month after the trial is over. 

Slumps, ruts, and obstacles happen. You’re not weird or lazy or bad if life is getting you down and making you not want to exercise. Exercise might make you feel a little better about life though, at least if you take it one day at a time. Cheesy or not, you are worth the effort.