junglemoth

For those of you who work physically demanding jobs, where do you find your motivation to overcome your exhaustion and get out and ride?

I work in a restaurant that is very fast paced and has me on my feet for 6-8 hours 5 nights a week. This is compounded by the fact that the restaurant has 3 separate floors, all of which I need to be in throughout the night. I'm climbing stairs CONSTANTLY for the entire duration of the shift. In fact, nearly every task I do requires that I either ascend or descend a full set of stairs, sometimes while carrying heavy bins full of dishes, trays, people's food, etc.

Simply put, by the end of the night i'm pretty damn beat. My feet hurt, my legs and back are sore, and all I want is a beer and my bed.

I started this job only a few weeks ago and know that eventually my legs will stop getting sore, and will strengthen and get used to the task. I've worked much harder jobs in the past, so I know how the body adapts.

All I really want to do is ride my bike, but the problem is it's hard to find the time and motivation. Sometimes I get done with work at midnight, and by the time I get to bed it's late. Meaning I sleep in late to compensate, and before I know it it's time to start getting ready for work again.

With the summer coming up I really don't want to piss away my days like I did last year. I want to get up at a decent hour, get out in the fresh air, and ride my bike for a few hours before work, regardless of what my feet or legs feel like.

I know my body will adapt to whatever load I place on it, I just need to find some motivation to continue pushing myself. I don't want my job to dominate my life and have me wanting to do nothing but lounge around in my free time. On the bright side, I try and view all of the stair climbing as extra training!

Thoughts?

JohnDThompson 

I'm an acute care RN working at two local hospitals. I'm on my feet all day as well. I get my riding in by commuting by bicycle.

CrankAndYank

Yeah - pursue a career that let's you (physically) rest while working.

sloar 

I'm a firefighter and work 24 hours. We stay busy through the night because we also run an ambulance. I usually average 3-4 hours of broken sleep while at work. But after a crazy and hectic shift nothing calms me down better than a nice ride. I always do solo rides first thing in the morning. If I miss a ride I'm in a bad mood the rest of the day.

Gluteus

AMC and Theda?
Saint Elizabeth?

OP, ride before work (rollers in this freaking long winter).

MikeWMass

+1. There was a study a few years ago that showed that people who exercise before work are more consistent than those who exercise later in the day.

plumberroy

I am a maintenance plumber in a big hospital 2.2 million square feet of occupied space I walk and pull a cart full of tools alot riding actually helps my back and legs and helps my mental state. Just have to remember I feel better when I ride
Roy

10 Wheels

Forget the beer and get more sleep.
Sleep helps much.......

escarpment

I work at a wine bar and I used to drink ever time I worked. I have stopped drinking on the job, and It makes things a lot easier. Much easier to talk to the babes that I serve when you can be articulate and not slur or stumble on your words.

Either quit or just make time to ride.

Your longwinded question has all your answers carefully hidden within it.

JCNeumann

Take the "optimist" route, and look at your job in two ways

1) Being happy and pumped to have a job. Sounds corny, but being employed does wonders for your mental state in this crappy economy.

2) Treat it as a cross-training exercise. Stretch and have a good meal before hand, keep hydrated and stretch during, and have a good cool down afterwards. Yes you will need to reduce your cycling for a while, but after a month or so, it will be like a workout you can do in your sleep. Plus, get appropriate footwear - find out what your colleagues wear. It will make a HUGE difference.

The hardest part will be to avoid the temptation to eat rich food too quickly, and ready access to booze. That will make your life hell if you do.

BykOfALesserGod

I work in a Brig with over 300 prisoners. It's a bit mentally demanding to deal with people who can't look forward to the end of a working day.

I also PT/run with 18-20 yr old USMC LCPLs and CPLs in the morning, swim at lunch, ride in the afternoon and lift weights in the evening 5 times a week. If I don't feel like doing something in particular, no biggie, I just skip it that day. To give myself a rest my no PT, break days are Wednesdays and Sundays.

Jandro 

... not really the point.

Number400

Keeping working the bike, improve your diet and sleep quality. Your job will get easier and you will find that you have more energy at the end of your shifts. It's just going to take time but one day, you will notice the improvement.

jrobe

But it was really the best answer. He would be far better off if he was thinking long term and not short term and work toward a better job. Then he will do far more riding throughout his life.

JohnDThompson 

Both, as needed.

I'm guessing you're local?

Condor637

Easy, I purchased a bike that I enjoy riding (bike motivates). My previous ride was a dust collector and as much as I tried to like it, it never was a good fit to motivate me to ride.

My work shift M-F 9-6 p.m with a 2.5 hour round trip commute, great shift but the hours suck to get a ride in, boils down to weekend rides only.

Jandro 

No, I don't think it is. Lots of cyclists I know (many who race) have physically demanding jobs (auto mechanics, nurses [on their feet for 10-14hr shifts], construction workers, etc etc) and they manage it just fine. Time management, scheduling, and motivation are the answers here.

icyclist 

"I started this job only a few weeks ago and know that eventually my legs will stop getting sore, and will strengthen and get used to the task. I've worked much harder jobs in the past, so I know how the body adapts."

So why don't you report back to us in a month and let us know how it's going.

"With the summer coming up I really don't want to piss away my days like I did last year."

You aren't going to find answers here with your attitude, are you?

clausen

I use to work 12 hour night shifts and still road 2 hours before work each day. My ride was always the best part of my day.

THSdrummer

In the summer I work 6 hour shifts in the parking lot watering plants from 12-6. It's so dang hot out there. Sometimes cresting above 100* plus the hot asphalt. I always do my workouts in the morning. It gives me a reason to get up and go. If I woke up just to go to work I'd probably be pissed all the time. I'm also convinced the air at 5 AM tastes better. Much more crisp with a cool chill (even when the daily temperatures push the upper 90s). Being the only one on the roads is nice.

The first few weeks, my workouts suffer, but before long I'm adapted. Just eat healthy and drink plenty of water. Rest is very important as well.

Recreate.me

Sleep lots, eat well, and lots of caffeine but only at the end of the day so you don't OD by the time your shift ends.

Hapsmo911

I work 5 12 hour days on my feet most of those hours. I find that if you go home and change and go straight for a ride it works. If you stop to eat or sit for a minute you wont go.

lanahk

If it wasn't for commuting by bike, I wouldn't ride much at all, or would only get to ride in the summer.

Dead Roman

Electrician. I do physical labor all day. I am also the big strong guy, so I end up doing the horsepower work.


you just get on the bike and ride.

hostdp6

Doesn't work; still exhausted.