Hannah Cockroft Column: My tips for keeping motivated during lockdown

The clocks have gone back, the days are getting shorter and our sport and leisure facilities are locked up for a second time.
Hannah Cockroft. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Hannah Cockroft. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Hannah Cockroft. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

As I fought my way around a final track session last week, with Storm Aiden pouring rain and throwing gale force winds against me, I was worried this was probably going to be my easiest training session for the foreseeable future.

Even with the elements against me, throwing my chair around the track, training is always easier when you have someone to meet, somewhere to go and a time to aim for, and now that facilities are closed once more, for many people, including myself, schedules and motivation are flying away as quickly as the storm can take them, so, I wanted to try and give you a bit of that motivation back.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A big thing for me this year has been goal setting. It has been difficult to find goals to work towards, as my season was almost non- existent and we have no dates for racing on the horizon so I had to look beyond the lack of physical goals and set internal ones.

For example, I wanted to learn to push on a new style of gloves. Usually, there isn’t time to allow myself to try new things that will make me slower before they will make me faster, but this year I had all the time in the world. The work paid off too as a few races were run at last minute, so I could put my new skill into practice, becoming British Champion in the process. If you are looking for a goal to set outside of sport though, mine was to empty my email inbox. A small task for many but a mammoth one for me but I feel so much more organised and relaxed now it is done!

Working to a schedule is another great way to stay motivated, however it is not something I am particularly good at, so I must find ways to hold myself accountable. I do this by training or having meetings with my coaches over zoom and teams, programmes that we have all become far too familiar with.

Having someone else involved forces you to keep to time and is a great way not only to get things done, but also to stay in contact with people. Schedule in a call with a friend or a quiz with family too, so you can still have fun and see everyone. By putting a time in your diary for interactions like this, they are more likely to happen and you will be left feeling loved and happy.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I have had to use variation as motivation to get on with training a lot this year. With tracks closed and the roads getting more dangerous in bad weather, I am stuck to my rollers more than I’d like to be, so I have added in Ski-erg sessions and new exercises in my home gym programme to try and keep it interesting.

If you don’t fancy your same old route for tonight’s walk, go somewhere new, or try yoga or a Joe Wicks PE lesson. Variation will keep you interested and active.

My favourite motivation though is reward - renting a movie when I’ve achieved one of my goals, or a treat night at the end of my training week. Schedule yourself a finish time, stick to it and give yourself something to look forward to!