How many of you have started a new regime, a positive mindset or a healthy plan for the new year, but suddenly watched it tail off? I can imagine there is quite a lot of you nodding in agreement right now!
Many people start positive mindset or fitness programs with every intention to move forward, but in reality, a lot of us find them hard to stick to and tend to slack with them as time goes on. Not everyone of course – and those who have made a solid effort to stick to them and go forward with their goals should be praised for their efforts!
There are so many reasons why people quit and don’t follow through with positive changes. But the main one is simply boredom or feeling of demotivation. It’s easy to write lists, make plans and get all excited into a motivated mindset for a week or two, but when ‘life’ creeps in along with old habits, it when some people fall quite quickly and throw in the towel.
If this is you, we’ve rounded up some tips below which can help you to stay motivated when embarking on a new fitness and health journey:
1. Set achievable goals
Jumping in feet first and being too adventurous with plans is a sure fire way to fail, as the goals you have set will seem somewhat unrealistic. You can go from one mindset or one way of living, to the complete opposite end of the spectrum overnight. Goals take time, and the journey should be achievable and enjoyable.
If you go in too ambitious, you’re simply setting yourself up to fail, especially if you haven’t pushed yourself or worked on yourself for a long while. Whether it’s with mindset, food, healthy living or weight, start with smaller goals, and in time, work up to the bigger ones. You could aim to wake up just 10 minutes earlier to start a better morning routine. You can aim to squeeze in a 20 minute stroll around the block on your lunch hour. You could spend time doing yoga, or studying for a new course, for just half an hour every three days or something.
Do what is relatable and fits into your life.
2. Make the tough tasks fun
If something is dull to do, it becomes a chore – that’s we avoid a lot of the ‘bad’ tasks. There is a technique called ‘swallow the frog’, which encourages you to do the worse task – the one you really are dreading – first, so that it is out of the way. Think about it. Once the dreaded task is done, you then have the rest of the day to do the more enjoyable tasks!
Another thing to think about is ways to make the more gruelling tasks fun. You might hate exercise, but you’re determined to become more fit. Why not look a taking up dancing or you doing Zumba style work outs, which incorporate lively music and can leave you feeling energised and like you have had fun?
Finding a local spot that has the right atmosphere makes a big difference in how you feel about your workouts. Many people find that being around others who have similar goals keeps them on track. A community setting like https://www.otbhealthclubmckinney.com/ is a good example of where you can find that support. It is often easier to show up when you know there is a welcoming space waiting for you. This kind of environment helps you stay consistent even on days when your energy is low. Having a dedicated place to go turns a vague plan into a solid part of your daily life.
You could even bring friends into the mix, and get them to join you to do some of the dull tasks. If you’re wanting to start a new business or exciting venture, nail the finances and money side of it first, which people detest, but it can really help you clear out the ‘dreaded start’ and then crack on with the more exciting tasks!
Not all tasks have to be boring. But it’s up to you to make it fun, as only you know what excites you and keeps your focus going.
3. Be aware of your mind and body every day
Give yourself chance to analyse how your body and mind feel everyday, especially when starting new routines or striving to achieve goals. There may be days you feel much worse than others, and when you are having lower days, you shouldn’t ignore them. Listen to your mind and body. If you are feeling down or depressed, it needs addressing before you start forcing yourself to meet targets and goals.
There are different levels of feelings, and perhaps you have been prone to suffering from depression or anxiety before. If you have, be aware that it’s common for this to raise it’s head again, especially when making changes to your life and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. There are so many methods available now to help with any anxiety or depression issues, including psychiatry, counselling or even mindset and wellbeing workshops.
Remember that it’s OK if you feel you don’t know enough about psychiatry, because there is so much reading material, advice and information out there. On that note, it’s not unusual to come across some people who have been known to be anti-psychiatry. This is usually when someone has a negative view on psychiatry and struggles to understand how it can help, and to see how it is actually an effective, normal way to improve mindset.
If you have pre-conceptions about psychiatry or may be a little anti-psychiatry, you can click here to read into it more and discover the benefits of the practice.
Once you commit to yourself to start taking note of how your mind and body feel, you’ll be quicker to recognise any dips, and when you should take a day off striving for your goals, and when you should really power on.
4. Write down your goals and make sure you revisit them regularly
The best thing to do with goal setting is to make sure they are in your vision regularly. There is no point setting them, writing them on a piece of paper and then forgetting where you have out it. This method is a sure fire way to help you forget your plan and go down that slippery slope!
Staying consistently engaged with your goals can also make it easier to identify the skills, habits, and opportunities needed to turn long-term ambitions into achievable milestones. Many people also choose to use online educational platforms and career-development resources like rockstardeveloperuniversity.com, to help them stay motivated, build valuable skills, and create clearer pathways toward professional success.
Whatever your goals are, make them visibale. Print them and frame them, and prop them up in eyesight. Record them in your daily diary or planner. Have a page dedicated to them, and flip through them everyday and revisit them. Many people set financial goals, and have big dreams to start making lots of money, which can then lead to changing their life. It’s worth making changes that are reasonable and achievable, which could be working on a side hustles, or looking for the best funded trading program based around online trading in a bid to boost your funds.
Your goals could be to lose a little bit of weight, to get fitter, to improve general fitness, to sleep better, to start a new career, or to feel mentally clearer each day. Whichever you go for, get yourself either a goal planner diary or something that helps you view your goals on a daily basis.
5. Reward yourself
Now this is the main one!
After you have completed one of the steps towards your goals, whether it’s completeing an exercise plan, a full week of healthier eating, saving money or giving yourself time for your mindset, always say well done to yourself. Find a way to pat yourself on the back and recognise your efforts. Everyone treats themselves differently, but everyone reacts the same way to rewards! Rewarding yourself will help you begin to make a long-term commitment to your goals because you’ll start to associate your goals with success and rewards – so what’s not to love?
Let me know if you have any other tips towards reaching those goals, and lets get setting them for 2021!
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