But which “you” matters here? Is it the you of the current moment, next hour, tomorrow, next month, etc…?
Any activity you do regularly and consistently will bring about different emotions and states of mind on different days. Some days you can’t wait to get started and some times you go weeks of having no motivation towards it.
I’m on a journey right now of hiking 50 miles a week. On most days, being able to get in nature for an hour or more is such a serene and grounding experience that brings me a lot of joy. But there are weeks where I don’t want to get out there, and even when I get started I don’t want to be there. But looking back, I see those days as part of the whole experience. I have retroactive enjoyment and pride in having pushed myself (type 2 fun) and I know that the subsequent 50 mile weeks are easier and more enjoyable because I kept the consistency up.
Yes, it is good to take breaks from things when you’re not enjoying them anymore. This allows you to reevaluate and get back your motivating “why”. But it can also be extremely hard to get back into a routine after a relatively short break. Anyone who has not exercised for a few weeks will know that feeling of weakness when they get started again.
I'd argue that the problem when you don't feel motivated (provided it's not because of a lack of sleep, hydration, or nutrition that's making you feel tired) is that you are not learning something new. This is why it's important to vary the location, or time, or who you go hiking with etc. If you add some variety to your activity, you will feel more motivated because you'll get to learn/experience something new, which is intrinsically exciting and rewarding.
Any activity you do regularly and consistently will bring about different emotions and states of mind on different days. Some days you can’t wait to get started and some times you go weeks of having no motivation towards it.
I’m on a journey right now of hiking 50 miles a week. On most days, being able to get in nature for an hour or more is such a serene and grounding experience that brings me a lot of joy. But there are weeks where I don’t want to get out there, and even when I get started I don’t want to be there. But looking back, I see those days as part of the whole experience. I have retroactive enjoyment and pride in having pushed myself (type 2 fun) and I know that the subsequent 50 mile weeks are easier and more enjoyable because I kept the consistency up.
Yes, it is good to take breaks from things when you’re not enjoying them anymore. This allows you to reevaluate and get back your motivating “why”. But it can also be extremely hard to get back into a routine after a relatively short break. Anyone who has not exercised for a few weeks will know that feeling of weakness when they get started again.