Walking Forum
Main Boards => General Walking Discussion => Topic started by: gunwharfman on 10:46:51, 15/11/19
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I'm sure it's partly due to my age but at this time of the year, when it's often dark and miserable, I often find it a bit difficult to motivate myself to get out and about. Like this morning, for example, my wife is out, I know I'm going out but I'm also putting it off as well. Its so much easier to sit in front of my PC in the warm and have another coffee and this time with a custard tart as well. That's what I have just done. To motivate myself now I will have to put on my running gear because I know that once done I will actually leave.
I've discussed the subject of personal motivation with my wife a few times. Her agreed job is, if I whine too much about "its cold," "it's wet" "I'm not in the mood" etc, she will 'persuade' me to go! It works and I always feel appreciative once I know I've done my thing for the day! In her case she manages motivation in a different way, her life is about meeting up with friends for coffee, etc and visiting each other during the day (is this a female thing?) whereas I find that difficult to do, men that I know just don’t go in for this kind of routine. When I do it, my socializing tends to be in the evening and it usually ends up with me in the pub and drinking alcohol.
I had no trouble motivating myself to drive to the Lakes for Remembrance Sunday and climb to the top of Great Gable because I had a purpose that day, rather than just wanting to go for a walk. I've also learned that once I book a train or a plane that is enough to make my commitment to my planned hike. If I dither or make excuses thats when my wife comes into the motivation subject again, she will book it for me!
Do you have motivation problems about hiking? Do you have your own system or routine to overcome personal inertia? Do you have have this problem?
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No. If I want to go for a walk and have chance I do, if I dont want to go then I dont go. Simples!
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I go out when I can because life is too short. And there is always some t**t who wants to ruin your day. Out on the hills I feel alive and free of vexatious human interaction.
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Lets put it this way, and sorry to be so blunt about it.
There will come a time, that due to age and possibly infirmity, that you will not be able to go out for a walk in cold and miserable conditions.
Once your out and about, properly attired for the weather outside, you thank yourself for having that will power to venture outdoors.
It may be cold and miserable, but as they say, there is no such thing as bad weather, its all down to wearing the correct clothing.
Just think about those poor unfortunate people who are homeless, and have to sleep out in these conditions.
There will come a time that all of us will not be able to be as active as we once were.
Just keep that in your mind, and count your blessings that you have sufficient health to go out walking.
Spare a thought for those poor people in Yorkshire, whose homes have been flooded and destroyed, what Christmas have they to look forward to.
These are the motivational tools i constantly think about, when the weather is as it is, this time of year.
Tomorrow i am (FINGER CROSSED) attempting the Gerlan to Yr Aryg route in the Carneddau.
Ive had all week to do the walk, but the weather has been dire, very heavy rain and strong winds, but i am physically in good shape, and can do the walk.
There are probably thousands of similarly minded people who would love to be able to do the walk, but their health will not allow it.
Go for it, as once your outside in the countryside this time of year, you can experience nature at its bleakest time.
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I don't have a problem with lack of motivation, I just feel there's so much I still want to do but I have a sense of time running out. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to waist all my time putting money into someone else's pocket.
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Never had any really "hard core" motivational problems in regard to walking...basically I do it because I enjoy it a lot.
But my motivation has certainly altered over the years, and from time to time I have needed "tricks" to get me out of periods of relative apathy.
In early days of walking I was very driven by desire to get to point where I could get to point where I could do a good number of 6 to 8 mile walks on my own...without being dependent on other people navigating for me. Once I'd achieved that I became motivated to walk longer distances.
Nowadays importance of just distance is fading, I think I get more enjoyment out of doing a new route...I tend to feel happier if I do a brand new 6 miler than if I do a regular 12 miler I've done a few times before. (But yes...I do get some enjoyment from doing regular routes.)
In past I tended to buy relatively expensive kit, if I my walking motivation was low ...knowing (tight git that I am) that I would fel a wee bit guilty if I didn't get out and use it. Nowadays I think my main motivational "trick" is the power of routine. Come Thursday I go out and do a 12 miler somewhere...come rain, snow, whatever...its Thursday so I go walking.
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For me it's the weather. I'm itching to get out for a day walk, I have screencaps of the OS map all ready for the route I want to do, I have some sandwich meat in the fridge, and I was planning to do it this week.
But I went up to the shops on Monday to discover that winter has arrived, and I don't see the point in driving 20-25 miles to spend all day in low temperature and chilling wind, no matter how well wrapped-up I'll be.
Added to that I'm now starting a cold, maybe I picked up germs from a supermarket basket, the self checkout machine or perhaps from the pump and keypad when I went to buy petrol.
I'm going to wait until the temperature is in double figures, which will possibly be in the latter part of next week.
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I'm not expecting temperatures in double figures up here for at least 3 months, time I moved south.Now I no longer have a dog demanding a walk I find that having a goal, like walking 1000 miles in the year actually helps quite a lot. This year I am adding a target for metres uphill so that I don't just do the easy miles.When the weather is cold I do find it hard to pack up a sandwich and get out for the day though, especially on my own. I do get in a bit of a rut of up the hill behind the house (which isn't very high) and then turn right or left and circle back home, 3 or 4 miles. Or sitting at the computer writing stuff like this when I should be out.
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I so much love being out walking that only heavy rain would keep me indoors. In the winter, what with the dark evenings and wintry conditions, I rarely go right out into the countryside but I do a great deal of rural fringe and urban walking instead.
I would find it very depressing not to be out and about and I think it's so important to get out while one can. Walking gives me such a sense of freedom and is a respite from stress. Far from lacking motivation, I have a longing to be out there.
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For me it's the weather. I'm itching to get out for a day walk, I have screencaps of the OS map all ready for the route I want to do, I have some sandwich meat in the fridge, and I was planning to do it this week.
But I went up to the shops on Monday to discover that winter has arrived, and I don't see the point in driving 20-25 miles to spend all day in low temperature and chilling wind, no matter how well wrapped-up I'll be.
Added to that I'm now starting a cold, maybe I picked up germs from a supermarket basket, the self checkout machine or perhaps from the pump and keypad when I went to buy petrol.
I'm going to wait until the temperature is in double figures, which will possibly be in the latter part of next week.
Sounds similar to my ethos at the moment. I used to be out in all sorts of weather as that was the only time I had to do it - if it was pouring down, blowing a gale or in clag I'd still get out on the fells, squelch through bogs and use it as an opportunity to work on navigation - more type 2 fun really.
One thing which has actually fired my motivation back up lately has been recent injury. As Dyffryn says, it gave me a window into the future and the fact that at some point I won't be able to do this any more, I'll just be gazing up at the peaks but my body won't carry me there any more. I've had a list of various trips I've wanted to do for a while, but the trick is to keep lacing up your boots and getting out there. Don't worry about being 'in the mood', you'll never be in the mood, just do it and often being 'in the mood' will follow your actions - especially with how important physical activity and sunlight is for the body in the winter months in particular. Regarding shorter days - if you're confident in your hill craft and bring a head torch, walking back in the dusk isn't particularly problematic, either.
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My motivation is based mainly on targets, of which I've many, but my most important one is annual mileage and from that I get monthly and weekly targets that I really want to meet. I like rain, but if for any reason I don't feel like a walk I get my gear on and get prepared and set off anyway - and I'm always glad I did.
I also aim to do at least one walk each week in an area I've not visited before. Once I've planned the walk and copied it to my gps, I can't wait to do it!
So the short answer is: My motivation comes from targets, routine and new routes.
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Gunwharfman wrote
I had no trouble motivating myself to drive to the Lakes for Remembrance Sunday and climb to the top of Great Gable because I had a purpose that day, rather than just wanting to go for a walk.
Treat each day as a training day and you will have the motivation to get out.Unless I have something to aim for such as a multiday backpack,or in the past,a race,I have always found it hard to walk or run for the sake of it.
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Thank you, really good to read all of your views.
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I have no problem getting out for short, local walks but anything that involves planning? Well, just lately I seem to need some sort of incentive; be that meeting up with someone or a group, or booking accommodation so I have committed myself or face losing money.
Actually having the time to dedicate to a "full day walk" is more of a problem just at the moment :(
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Motivation has never really been a problem fir me... I really enjoy physical exercise. The weather plays no part as I have always thought I may get wet for a few hours but at the end of it there’s a hot shower and dry clothes. I enjoy very windy weather when walking , I think it lets you know you are still alive and kicking ( at least for now)
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Oddly, reading this thread yesterday encouraged me to find the car keys and go and do a different (small) hill 3 miles down the road, with a different round, and increased the motivation no end.
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My motivation is always weather related,i dont mind cold or getting caught in showers,but if its forecast heavy rain for most of the day then i stay home.
I usually have a few routes planned so i check the weather in their locations and if it looks ok i say to myself "go or you,ll regret it" and away i go.
Ive done the "soaking wet walks" before,no enjoyment in them for me.
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I was motivated this morning! We have friends staying so I was out of the house just after daylight (they were all still sleeping) and returned four hours later, so avoiding the 'getting up period,' the breakfast period' and the 'taking over the bathroom/shower period' when everyone has a habit of getting under each others feet. By the time I returned home everyone was up and organised.
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Good for you! All you need to do now is keep the motivation going, even when there’s nothing at home to escape from ;)
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Still no real issue with motivation here. I guess as I have only been back walking for four years, it is still a fresh sport for me. I also started climbing again about 18 months ago, so that is helping too, as it gives me another reason to get out and about on the moors and coast.
I have also been setting target events to aim for.
The first was Ben Nevis back in early 2015, that got me back into the swing. I then hoped to do the Scottish 4000s in 2016, but I pulled a muscle training, so had to pull out. That took a full 18 months before I could train hard again.
2018 it was Snowdon and Scar Fell Pike with my son, we had hoped to do the Ben that winter too, but there was no window, before he set off for NZ.
2019 And finally getting hill fit I took on the Dartmoor high ground marathon and also hope to make up for missing out on a winter climb of the Ben by climbing Mount Ruapehu with my son in a few weeks time. Plenty of snow on that one.
2020 well I need some targets. Thinking of the Scottish 4000s again but that one takes a chunk of leave out of my year. So maybe the Dartmoor high ground 50 miler. One thing is for sure, as I said to our walk leader after splitting from the group and jogging up an extra tor at the end of our last group walk. As long as I can I will.
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My motivation comes from the yearning to get out into open spaces after working & earning. I am self employed with flexible work patterns & just the thought of planning another walk to do when the sun shines & work is quiet still gives me a buzz. I have more walks planned on OS maps than I will ever do but even the planning is great fun . I am lucky in that the Welsh border is an hour away, & the Brecon Beacons & Black Mountains are 1&1/2 hours away.
Life balance between work/family/leisure is what motivates me too, knowing that after a long walk, the days to follow I can enjoy family life with more energy again, & not less.
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Motivation isn't an issue.
Having the spare time in reasonable weather conditions are the main 'issue' ;)