Movement motivation; Am I being lazy or intuitive?

I snoozed my alarm, slept in and skipped my CrossFit class this morning.

The darker and colder mornings are making it so much easier to snooze the alarm and snuggle back under the duvet.

So, was I being lazy or intuitive?

Our minds are inherently lazy, this is a protective evolutionary trait. Better to save our energy to run away from a bear than waste it all doing burpees, right?

We can use the principles of intuitive movement to navigate a healthy relationship with exercise, that is sustainable (no motivation required).

“Intuitive movement is a holistic approach to physical activity that emphasizes listening to and honoring your body's natural cues and preferences rather than adhering to structured or externally imposed exercise routines. This approach fosters a connection between the mind and body, encouraging movement that feels good and is enjoyable rather than obligatory or punishing.”

If you’ve struggled with an unhealthy relationship with exercise, this can be tricky to navigate. I know in the past the guilt of missing a workout was far worse than pushing through a workout while fatigued, unwell or injured.

Times when you should be intuitive, listen to your body and rest:

-Sickness

-Proper tired (like real tired, we know can learn the times when we feel somewhat tired, but know a workout will make us feel better and more energised)

-What are you sacrificing? (eg a walk in nature with a friend better than CrossFit, or if you’re missing social commitments/other important things in life in order to workout)

-Injured (If you’re injured and still feel the need to exercise, kindly and curiously check in with yourself, why do I feel the need to continue exercise while I’m injured? Is this healthy?)

-Perinatal/Post-Partum

-Menstrual cycle stage

Creating a sustainable movement routine is a matter of creating habits rather than just relaying on motivation (not all the reliable motivation you’ll find). Accountability is another tool that can be helpful in creating these routines. @thebraindoctor, on Instagram has some great infographics and resources on creating sustainable habits.

I know that for myself, I need to external motivation and accountability. I book classes online and plan my week in advance. Why? Movement is non-negotiable for me, because of the benefits it brings to my mental and physical health. I have movement routines that bring me joy and make me feel good-this is why they are non-negotiable in my week. This is what works for me. Everybody is going to be completely different. It is also okay if your movement routines ebb and flow with life.

Be kind to yourself,

M x