{"id":178601,"date":"2020-07-10T08:18:10","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T08:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=178601"},"modified":"2020-07-10T08:18:10","modified_gmt":"2020-07-10T08:18:10","slug":"maintaining-focus-and-motivation-when-riding-the-same-route-over-and-over-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2020\/07\/10\/maintaining-focus-and-motivation-when-riding-the-same-route-over-and-over-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Maintaining Focus and Motivation When Riding the Same Route (Over and Over Again)"},"content":{"rendered":"

After months of facing week after week of largely predictable days, we\u2019re all familiar with the strain that monotony can have. For many, the bicycle has served as an escape during this strange time but what happens when even that starts to get a bit repetitive and motivation wanes?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the face of cancelled cycling trips, apprehension surrounding group events, and general uncertainty, this summer of cycling presents a unique set of challenges and you might be finding it harder than usual to stay focused on your cycling goals. Although we tend to encourage repeated rituals and preparations when planning your training strategy, that might not quite be what you need right now. If you\u2019re finding yourself less than thrilled to take to the same route for the one zillionth time this year, read on to find some tips and advice for breathing new life into your same old ride.<\/p>\n

\"MTB
On a cycle trail in autumn forest. \u00a9 Gorilla \/ DPphoto \/ Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Understand what\u2019s happening to your brain<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Experiencing a sudden lack of interest in something we normally feel passionate about can be confusing and even frightening. What\u2019s more, is that it tends to operate a bit like a contagious disease. It starts off small, with a short ride feeling a bit more tedious than usual, and can quickly escalate into a total lack of inspiration to ride at all.<\/p>\n

The reason we often hear that variety is the spice of life is that our brains are programmed to seek the next reward and seeing or experiencing something new gives us that hit of dopamine we\u2019re always after. It\u2019s harder to tap into these happy juice reservoirs when our brain is confronting old patterns or repetitive tasks because the novelty aspect isn\u2019t there as a stimulus. In order to evade this contrivance of the brain, it\u2019s necessary to take a proactive approach and incorporate new angles in order to keep our repetitive activities fresh and interesting.<\/p>\n

Focus on the bigger picture<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Especially if you\u2019re looking to achieve a specific cycling goal, it can pay off to spend some time reviewing your past accomplishments in order to prepare for and get yourself excited about your next ride. By reminding yourself that every major achievement in your life has consisted of a long list of minor victories, you\u2019ll be able to more easily appreciate the value of seemingly insignificant and repetitive endeavours. Situating your current activities into a larger framework or anatomy of success will bolster your confidence and focus thanks to the satisfaction of past triumphs and the anticipation of future targets.<\/p>\n

\"l'Etape
The start of the 2019 l’Etape du Tour.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Get acquainted with your discomfort<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Another drag of repeating the same ride over and over again is that any minor discomforts quickly take on a starring role when there\u2019s nothing to look to for distraction. It might be easy to ignore burning legs when you\u2019re chasing an incredible view but less so when you\u2019re slugging through familiar territory you know like the back of your hand. Sure, training sessions always involve a little discomfort but even if you subscribe to the \u201cno pain, no gain\u201d mantra, it can be frustrating to spend the whole ride focused on it. One way to recontextualize this sensation and turn it into something empowering is by owning it rather than trying to disassociate with it. Think about how the burn is just small muscle fibres breaking down and getting stronger, and how you should make the most of it while you\u2019re there. Start having a conversation with your body and realize that you have the power to alter your mind\u2019s opinion about the strain or discomfort you\u2019re currently experiencing.<\/p>\n

Find creative ways to boost morale and motivation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As you\u2019ve likely come to appreciate over the last months, the little things really can make a big difference. Small pleasures that were easy to take for granted in a stimulus-drenched existence are once again proving themselves special. Use this to your advantage by promising yourself a particular post- or mid-ride treat. Plan to stop by and say hi to a friend or to listen to a new piece of music you\u2019re excited about while on your ride. If it\u2019s in your budget at the moment, buy a new jersey or even just a pair of socks. It might feel silly to use these little treats as motivation but it will certainly generate more excitement and tap into some of the pleasurable feelings you normally associate with cycling.<\/p>\n

\"Cycling
Even new socks can change your ride.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Give yourself a break<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We all know that stress is a motivation killer, so give yourself permission to take it one step at a time and work with what you\u2019ve got on any given day. It is totally normal to be disappointed that you had to cancel your trip or event and you shouldn\u2019t feel guilty about giving yourself some time to lament that loss. There are a lot of things that seem to be out of our control right now and that inevitably takes a toll on our energy and motivation levels. That being said, spending time on your bike also provides a great opportunity to train your mind to cope with the unexpected<\/a> and find pleasure in the seemingly mundane. Hopefully by reminding yourself of the many benefits cycling has to offer, the ride won\u2019t seem so boring or tiresome after all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After months of facing week after week of largely predictable days, we\u2019re all familiar with the strain that monotony can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":174102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[332],"tags":[4267,4268,4269],"global-categories":[3366],"class_list":["post-178601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-and-training","tag-maintaining-focus","tag-maintaining-motivation","tag-riding-the-same-route","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\nMaintaining Focus and Motivation When Riding the Same Route<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Understand what\u2019s happening to your \ud83e\udde0 Find creative ways to boost morale and motivation. 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