My nanny quit by voice mail last night. It’s the last straw. I can’t subject my kids to further upheaval, so it looks like I’m going to quit my job (which I love). Hubby has stress at his job and is looking for a new one (I think; he doesn’t talk much about it; what a guy!). Yada yada yada. Whine, whine, whine.
Anyway, I got up this morning and went to my spin class. I usually follow that up with 1000-2000 swim. I made it 8 laps. When I’m bummed, I have a difficult time motivating. I know that some people lose themselves in exercise and actually do more when in crisis. I heard about this woman once who was getting a divorce, took up the sport of triathlon and ended up in Kona. Talk about channeling rage.
Since it looks like I might have a little more training time in the near future, how do I turn the mopes into something productive?
They did an excellent job of setting up and putting you in the tough political and economic hardships America was facing in the late 70’s. In the setting of the movie, you’ll listen to some of Jimmy Carter’s ‘Maliase’ speech as you see flashbacks of the issues and problems facing an unmotivated America. Although highly criticized by the left for his infamous speech, it ended up motivating the nation, and the US entered the longest stretch of economic growth ever. Disney did an excellent job of showing the story of the 1980 Gold Medal Olympic Hockey Team through the eyes of the athletes and the coaches. Most sporting movies take a fan or journalist view of the sport. As a result, those movies usually suck. Not the case w/ this movie. You’ll see what drives the coach and the supporting role his spouse plays. Great movie, even if you’re not a hockey fan.
on a peformance note a friend went through something similair, he became a stay at home dad and went from a 2:15oly to a 1:57oly in less than a year. He towed his kid around on the bike everywhere. The poor/lucky kid logged 250-300 miles per week behind his dad’s bike.
Change is hard, but try changing your frame a little. You are fortune it enough to have a job you love, which many people don’t and you are deciding to leave that job to spend more time with your kids and, if you choose, train for a sport you enjoy. Encourage your husband to make a change, maybe not now since that may be a bit much. I think if you just try to approach it a different way you will find it easier.
It may just take some time for the change to settle in and your focus might drop during that time, not the end of the world.
I would start by making a schedule just like you would at your job and stick to it. Schedule your life at home as your job. I happen to be schedule oriented and not following it bothers me so that would be great motivation.
Can you consult from home part time?
If you are not already, join some training clubs so you can have some adult interaction.
Who knows, 6 months or a year from now you may decide this was a great thing? Good Luck!
The “mopes” may be short term, too. I wouldn’t be too hard on yourself for getting up to do a spin class and shortening your swim. You just got this news last night - that’s a lot of stress and not much recovery time.
I agree with everybody else on the training partners. I was laid off a couple of years ago and was blown away by how many people actually have time during the day to get together and train. You seem like a very positive person and will find the benefits quickly - I’m sure you will miss your job since you love it, but you will love being at home too. Excellent bonding with the kiddos, more flexible schedule…lots of benefits - change is good. Oftentimes, the change that is forced on us is the one that makes us look back and say, “I’m so glad that happened.”
training partners are great, but so are coaches/clubs. I used to be able to swim for an hour easily by myself 3-4 times a week, now I can’t unless I’m working out with my club. anyway the coaches and people in my club give me more motivation than anything else.
as for the mood swings, well I gotta admit I’m in a bit of a rut myself as well. I took some time off work to see some friends, and was hoping on training but the weather sucks and I just can’t get into it. but I also find that after a while I’ll find the motivation myself. Sometimes maybe your body is just asking for a break. Maybe you can pick up something new, or do some other projects that have been on hold…
I too have a difficult time working out when I am under a lot of pressure. When I feel frayed and razzled I rarely can muster the concentration to put in a good workout.
I usually do a couple things to handle it.
Don’t workout. Stress is your body and mind adapting to change. Giving your mind a chance to adapt by taking a break from your workout routine is not a crime. You’re not training for the world championships, are you?
Ease up on the workout. Do a LSD swim and use it to clear your head if you can. Sometime’s it works for me.
And my favorite…
Find a punching bag at the gym and beat the living shit out of it. Think of it as a plyometric workout for your upperbody and core muscles. =)
Sometimes when I was growing up I would take my dad’s dull ax and apply it to one of our tree’s in the back yard. It didn’t do the tree any good, pissed my parents off to no end, but I usually felt 100% better after about 5-10 minutes if chopping and screaming.
Thank you all; I’m taking these suggestions to heart. In addition to a Just Do It mantra, I’m also repeating “change is good.”
I especially like the punching bag suggestion – reminds me of bunnyman’s (I think it was him) “beat up the rude drivers” advice from the other day. For some reason, that really peaked my interest. I’ve never actually been in a fist fight and never have had a chance to pull someone’s shirt over their head. I’ve always wanted to, though (that scares the hell out of my husband whenever I mention it:). What do you think my chances are – 5’7", 125 lbs. Do you think unexpressed rage can make up for what I lack in size? Probably should stick to the punching bag.
Thank you, I can relate very much. I did all last season on a borrowed bike, can’t afford one yet this year, maybe by June 15… Allergies here in Chicago raising my HR and hurting my breathing on runs, not enough time to train, girlfriend stressing and talking about moving back to her hometown far away, $$ probs all the time, running shoes worn out, and can’t really pop for good ones right now, first IM race in October and still don’t know how I’m gonna pull off the plane/hotel/race fees, etc…
I get it, frustration looms! It’s hurt my training, makes me just want to give up at times. What’s worked for me is just writing out what it is I can do that day to better the situation, come up with a very structured week of training, errands, extracurricular stuff, etc., and do my best to work right within that structure. Something about having a set schedule frees my mind to just train and do the session when I’m training. I remember too, it’s not always serious! It may seem odd to other people, but I’m one of those who sometimes has to remind myself to get some playtime, have some fun with it. I can’t wait to get my bike - once in awhile I do the “ride whatever, wherever” ride, and leave the HRM at home, just go out and enjoy being outside, stop at a cafe and sit outside, relax…
Wrap your wrists with Ace bandages or tape them BEFORE you take on a heavy bag, especially if you are venting rage and have not used one before. A boxers sprain is a mighty annoying thing.
I especially like the punching bag suggestion – reminds me of bunnyman’s (I think it was him) “beat up the rude drivers” advice from the other day. For some reason, that really peaked my interest.<<
As someone who comes from a karate/sparring background, working out on the heavy bag is such an awesome workout and one of the best stress relievers around. There is nothing like the surge of power that you get when you hit that bag. Man, I miss it!
I would suggest maybe getting some pointers first though if you’ve never done it. There is a right and wrong way to punch and like someone said, a sprained wrist (or jammed knuckles) is not a nice thing.
Don’t give up Amy. Stuff weighs heavily on all of us. I just spend four hours fixing the roof on my new house and it is likely I will have to put an entire second story on it to really fix it- there goes my trip to IM Austria! It will cost tens of thousands of dollars. The construction guys come out to my house on the 13th. Damn. I knew I never wanted to be a home owner.
You gotta do what you gotta do but there will always be time for the sport. Stuff happens, you do the best you can and move on.
Everything will be fine. You have a great family and that is really something to value. I have 2 cats.