How To Stay Motivated As A SilverBack

Look, CrossFit can be like a love affair. At first it starts out hot.  You come out of the gate hot.  You’re looking at YouTube videos.  Your wardrobe is ever increasing towards CrossFit gear.  PRs seem to come every week.   You’re eating clean with very little cheating.

Then a few months/years go by…

Now you find yourself a little less motivated.  You look at less videos.  The PRs don’t come as fast.  You start to question the thing that used to bring so much joy.  The fire isn’t there.  Is the honeymoon over? 

This is something I’ve seen many times.  I’ve been doing CrossFit for 3+ years.  Yet, I can still say I love Crossfit.  Here are some tips that I’ve used to keep me motivated.

1. Fit for life - This isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.  This is not a “fad”, it’s a lifestyle.  Remember the workouts in the 80’s?  This isn’t like that.  So just like anything else, your perspective changes over time.  Recognize it for what it is. 
2. Associate with People Who Are On Fire – Energy is contagious.  Being around energetic people spreads.  This may be the young firebreathers in your box.  Use their energy to spark yours. 
3. Set Goals – Log your workouts so you can see trends.  Then based on trends, set goals.  There should be a mixture of short term, medium term and long term goals.  This is one of the best ways to stay motivated!
4. Don’t loose sight of your “Why” – Write it down.  Remind yourself of this.  If needed, create reminders (e.g. tape it to your mirror).   As a SilverBack, you may be in (or close to) the best shape of your life!  But don’t forget your humble beginnings.  Remind yourself.
5. Take Recovery Periods – The quickest way to get burnout (and injury) is to go too often.  Take recovery periods.  REST is part of the program.  It could be couple days or longer.   It’s even more important as a SiliverBack.  Don’t compare yourself to the young firebreathers that come in 6 days a week.
6. Have Fun – At the end of the day, CrossFit is a blessing.  How cool is it to enjoy every minute of it…from the PRs to the camaraderie of the box.  Sometimes this takes a little humility.  Don’t take yourself too seriously.