It is so easy to tell yourself that you are going to accomplish something new, change or improve something in your life. This could include losing weight, changing careers, or just learning a new skill. But what happens when this task takes longer than you had allowed for? Your motivation starts to disappear and quite often you give up on the idea altogether.
The hard part comes shortly after you have started your particular journey. You get sidetracked with other things and your goal becomes nothing but a distant memory.
Weight loss is a fine
example of this. If you have ever tried to lose weight you know your enthusiasm
is high for the first week or two. As you make lifestyle changes the pounds
drop off quickly and you are feeling great about your efforts.
A few weeks
into your diet you plateau and don’t lose any weight. You start to eat a little
more or stop exercising as much and then before you know it you have abandoned
your goal and have gone back to your old habits.
There are several reasons for this. First, you may not have recognized that plateauing is a perfectly normal occurrence when it comes to losing weight. Secondly, did you use not losing any weight as an excuse to have that extra treat or to miss a workout? Your mind can do wonderful things and is capable of coming up with hundreds of reasons to not do something.
1. Know your why
In order
to make any type of change in your life, you need to have a good reason to do
so. Having a goal is wonderful but the reason you have to reach that goal is
probably more important. If you want to change your job then you need to have a
reason for doing so, reasons could include; wanting more money, moving to a
new location, or more opportunities.
2. Set smaller goals
A great example of this is suddenly deciding that you will run a marathon. While this is a great goal, if you focus on nothing but running 26 miles, those miles will stretch further into the distance. Instead, you want to break down the 26 miles into smaller parts. Why not focus on running a 5K instead? This will seem much more manageable to you and you can reach your goal faster. By having a certain goal within your grasp you will stay motivated longer. As you picture yourself reaching that goal you can feel proud of your accomplishment. Once there, you can then concentrate on running a half marathon, and before you know your goal of running a full marathon will become a reality.
Weight loss is also a perfect example here. If you need to lose 20 kg don’t focus on this amount. Instead, if you set smaller goals of 2 kg per month you will find that you can stay on track better. If you meet
this goal faster than one month that is great then just keep on going. If you
are struggling or lose a little less then don’t give up, just refocus and set
your next monthly goal at 1.5kg.
3. Track your goals
Having a vision of what you want is a great way to stay motivated. This is why many people recommend keeping track of your goals. This can be done in various ways depending upon your goal. You can get tools like a calendar, vision board, food tracker, or exercise planner to help you stay on track.
Read: Tools to help you achieve your goals
If your goal is to lose weight then keep photos and
images of your progress. If it is another type of goal then keep a journal or
blog of your journey. This way you can see what you are struggling with and
what you are accomplishing.
Next, you really need to be honest with yourself. If you have lost 15 kg before you hit that plateau then congratulate yourself on that achievement. Focus on what you have done and not where you have to go! This is why it is often a good reason to keep photos of your journey. When you are feeling down take a look at them and remember what you did look like.
4. Get a support network
Getting support from family and friends can really make
a world of difference to your goals.
If you are learning a new sport you can download apps that allow you to set goals and share your progress on Facebook and Twitter. You can even get rewards and trophies as you reach your milestones. Another way to get support is to join a group of people with the same goals. You can find these groups online on social media or offline in clubs or associations interested in that activity.
If you put these four factors into practice you will find that you have both the drive and commitment to finally make those lifestyle changes you have dreamed about.
Read: How to create good habits to help you achieve your goals
