How many times do we hear people say, “I have no motivation.” They know what they should be doing to care for their health, but they can’t seem to pull it together. When you’re diabetic it’s especially important to follow up with all of the small steps: counting carbs, examining your feet daily, monitoring your blood sugar, adjusting medication dosages, and so on.
People are motivated to do all sorts of things. They watch their favorite television show or enjoy a delicious meal with loved ones. Maybe sleep in late on weekends or spend a day on a favorite hobby. Where do they find the motivation to do these activities? Because they’re enjoyable!
The critical difference with these things is that they bring about good feelings from endorphin release. Diabetic tasks aren’t fun, especially if you’ve just been diagnosed and getting used to your new diabetes routine.
No one feels motivated to do something if the costs seems to outweigh the benefits. Would you rather go to the gym in the evening or curl up on the couch and watch the Real Housewives of Orange County? Ahhhh, now you see!
The secret with motivation is to link the activity that feels like a challenge with one that feels like a reward. How about:
* Plan your exercise so it’s immediately followed by watching your favorite TV show.
* Make the doctor’s appointment you’ve been avoiding for months then shop for a new outfit.
* Test your blood glucose and then phone a friend you love to chat with straight after.
By pairing a fun rewarding activity with a “must do” task you’ll reap the reward while establishing good diabetes management skills that will benefit you in the future.
