4 TECHNIQUES TO STAY MOTIVATED
Every once in a while you may find yourself in a slump, difficult to stay motivated, start second guessing yourself and you simply don’t feel like doing what you set out to do. This could be your fitness program, losing weight, getting to a yoga class or learning a new skill…to name a few. How does one stay motivated? How do you keep moving forward with your progress? I’ve come up with four techniques that will help you out. Try them and let me know how this has helped you.
1. FORGET GOALS! Yes, I know what you are thinking…huh, isn’t this what I need is a goal, why would I not have a goal? Goals have a starting and an ending point — what’s going to happen after that ending point? This is why many times you actually lose your motivatation! You don’t have a plan after the ending point or ending date.
For example, your goal is to lose 10 pounds in 4 weeks. In week 2 you start losing steam, your willpower has left the country and you start second guessing yourself. The main reason this is happening is because you are only in it for the 4 weeks, subconsciously you know you don’t have a plan after this… so your mind is telling you, “what’s the point, I’m probably going to just gain the weight back again.”
Instead of a goal ask yourself WHY? Why are you doing this? Take the time to really think about this. Get a piece of paper and write down all the reasons WHY. Take your time and seriously figure out WHY, what is it that you really want to accomplish? Why is this important? How will it make you feel? How will your life be better? These reasons will continue to motivate you. After you have written down all the reasons why, post in a place that you frequent (refrigerator, office, etc.). Revisit your list daily.
2. SCHEDULE YOUR PRIORITIES! If you are like me, unless my arm is falling off, it takes at least 4 weeks to see my doctor. When I make an appointment with my doctor it is a priority — there’s no way I’m going to miss this appointment. Same with taxes, it’s March 15th and you know you better keep your appointment with your CPA or you will not get your taxes done in time – it’s a priority. What’s this got to do with staying motivated? EVERYTHING!
YOU, yes YOU, are a PRIORITY! Look at your calendar and schedule yourself. If it’s getting to a yoga class every Tuesday night then schedule it and don’t let ANYTHING get in the way. Want to work out every day to get in shape, feel good, have more energy, have your clothes fit better (these reasons are #1 by the way), then look at your calendar and schedule your workouts.
YOU ARE A PRIORITY! People are counting on you, if you are not healthy, you cannot serve others, you cannot be there fully for others, you cannot contribute at your optimum level. As the airlines say before take off — put your own mask on first before helping others.
3. PRACTICE NON-ATTACHMENT! So many of us when we start a new program think we must be perfect and if we don’t do 100%, 100% of the time then we have failed. NOT TRUE! You don’t have to be perfect. You are human.
Let go of the pre-conceived idea that you must get it right all the time. Something is better than nothing. If you fall off the program, detach from beating yourself up, judging and criticizing. It’s in the past and you can’t change it — move on. Take a breath or two, live in the moment and begin again.
4. REMOVE YOUR OPTIONS! Many of us suffer from what is known as ‘shiney object syndrome”, we see something else to entice us. We start second guessing the current program we are on, we think this other program is better and we get side-tracked. We start this program, then we see something else that seems better and we start this program, and the cycle continues.
Don’t get side-tracked. Stick with ONE program and stay committed. If you are working with a coach, take their advise and stay with the advise they are giving you. Don’t go looking for other programs, don’t start comparing what you are doing with what someone else is doing. There will be other options, there will always be other options, but moving from one program to another is not going to get you to where you want to be. You will be chasing your tail, bouncing from one plan to the next, it doesn’t work and you end up sabatoging yourself. Stop it as soon as you become aware of this syndrome. Stop it in it’s tracks and trust the program you are on.
When you practice these four techniques on a daily basis you will stay motivated, have the energy, stamina and desire to continue to grow and move forward. Tony Robbins has a saying, “If you are not growing, you’re dying.” Growing, getting stronger, becoming better at something takes work, stamina and can be scary. Don’t let this stop you, by moving forward one step at a time you will begin to see the results and reap the rewards of your efforts. And isn’t this what life is all about? When you begin to see results it makes you fell happy, joyous. You live your life with purpose.
Have a comment about this post? Let me know, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Very helpful. Thank you.
Awesome ….
Thanks ……