Every new years day millions of people around the world resolve to lose weight, be more fiscally responsible, learn a new trait, travel, or something or the other that will change their lives for the better. Regardless of what our resolutions are, more than likely by Valentine's day, if not before, half of us fall short of our promises to ourselves and our resolutions become nonexistent. Of course there are those dedicated individuals who stick to their goals and reap the rewards by relishing in their results throughout the year. But for the rest of us, including myself, we end up quitting up before we start. What I want to know is how do we avoid getting sidetracked? How do we stick to our guns? How do we stay motivated?
It is said that in order to make something a habit, you have to do the same thing every day for two weeks consistently. So if for instance, if you want to lose weight, you have to diet and exercise for two weeks straight in order for your mind and body to transform the action into a habit. This is of course easier said than done. Our families, jobs, responsibilities, unexpected events and LIFE in general get in the way. We all know that once you fall off the wagon it is always difficult to get back on and we make excuses disguised as “legitimate” roadblocks that prevent us from getting back on. But how do we stay on the wagon to begin with despite our setbacks in life?
I have tried everything from posting little sticky notes all over my house, to making lists, to even repeating mantras to myself in hopes that it will convince me to wake up the next morning and make the change. I will admit, it works, but it is only a matter of days before I am back to square one. I know that we are all humans and it is only natural for us to get lazy and take a day off every now and again, but when it comes to something as important as your health and daily happiness, why is it that we still lack that motivation? You would think wanting to be healthy and happy would be motivation enough! I don’t think anyone can deny this has happened or is currently happening to them. Be it weight, money, happiness, love, success or whatever else our resolutions may be, how do we stick to them?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this? What are some things that you do to keep yourself motivated when trying to achieve a goal?
I am looking forward to reading more of your blog! It is really interesting so far. I'm proud of you. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm trying something I picked up from an Oprah show and authors of the Secret and other such philosophies.. which is to place sticky notes or pictures in a place that we can see it everyday. The idea behind it being - seeing/ visualizing our targets help us attract them faster.
ReplyDeleteSo for instance, if weight loss is the goal, place a photo of a skinny woman, or ourselves looking skinny on our mirror that we look at every morning, so we can remind ourselves. I put my resolutions on a list in plain view to remind me what I have to do.
I need it as this stage because as life gets busier, its so easy to forget.
On another note, I hope ur 2010 is going well.. love u babes.. muaah xoxox ~Ayesha
I think this is a great idea Ayesha. I've done this too.. but then the sticky wears out on the note and the note eventually falls off and there goes that.. I guess I should just try harder????
ReplyDeleteI agree, motivation is something we easily dispose of - sometimes without even realizing it.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the idea of "I want to achieve this in 12 months" puts a strain on our enthusiasm, that the thought of this time frame is an excuse enough to say "I'll start tomorrow, or do it from next week or even next month" because we've given ourselves such a vast amount of time to accomplish something we most often never get to start.
I guess in order to stay focused you have to set yourself up with mini goals i.e. instead of thinking 12 months ahead, think 2 weeks ahead.
For example if you want to travel or treat yourself to something major, agree with yourself that you will save a certain amount by the end of the following week, then make a quick mental note (or write it on a new sticky note) what you plan to cut back on. Remember these are small goals so you only need to make a small saving here and there each week and it all adds up!
Another classic example would be weight loss - tell yourself by the end of the following week I need to lose ??lbs then devise your plan of action for those two weeks i.e. plan your menu, plan your exercise regime, etc, etc, this will aid in the achievement of your mini target, and before you know it all these mini accomplishments will add up to its overall purpose.
This routine has worked for me quite a few times, so it’s something that I thought would be best shared with everyone. You’ll be surprised with what you can achieve every two weeks.
P.S. Saf - great blog, Kamelia
I agree, motivation is something we easily dispose of - sometimes without even realizing it.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the idea of "I want to achieve this in 12 months" puts a strain on our enthusiasm, that the thought of this time frame is an excuse enough to say "I'll start tomorrow, or do it from next week or even next month" because we've given ourselves such a vast amount of time to accomplish something we most often never get to start.
I guess in order to stay focused you have to set yourself up with mini goals i.e. instead of thinking 12 months ahead, think 2 weeks ahead.
For example if you want to travel or treat yourself to something major, agree with yourself that you will save a certain amount by the end of the following week, then make a quick mental note (or write it on a new sticky note) what you plan to cut back on. Remember these are small goals so you only need to make a small saving here and there each week and it all adds up!
This routine has worked for me quite a few times for different things, so it’s something that I thought would be best shared with everyone.
You’ll be surprised with what you can achieve in short time spans.
P.S. Love the Blog Saf - Kamelia
I agree with Kamelia.You're absolutely right. I find that I set these artifical deadlines which I have to stick by and if for whatever reason I do not achieve my goal by that deadline, i am even harder on myself.I tend to take leaps insted of baby steps sometimes.Maybe it's a mental way of me tricking myself by giving myself more time to achieve my goal. I guess if I do take it one step at a time like Kamelia suggested and gradually,before you know it I can be where I want to be.Thanks.. That was really helpful!
ReplyDeleteLisa
Hey!
ReplyDeleteI had gained some weight in... 2008 and I didn't know how to take it off. I was scared cuz I kept gaining and gaining. But...what I did was read as many books as I could about it. Reading SKINNY BITCH really transformed my eating habits and then lead to me exercising regularly. EDUCATION, educating your mind, being informed, will change your habits. When I stop reading about healthy eating/ exercise's benefits, I start to fall off -- but when I keep reading that good literature and keep reminding myself of all the tangible benefits of healthy lifestyle changes -- WOW! I keep doing it. The mind changes everything else -- so start there!
Madina :)
Madina,
ReplyDelete"Skinny Bitch" was definitely a wake up call. Not only to start eating right,but more so what you put in your body. Educatating yourself is indeed the best way to deal with things of this nature.
Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely, you all have the answers! It really is just a matter of developing that mental strength to stick to the goals. I usually develop a 'self talk' as well...specific to the goal I'm setting out to achieve. I would write it out in big bold letters and then stick it up somewhere private but yet I can see it everyday ( my bathroom wall). Learn the self-talk ( eg. I'm happy, I'm healthy, I'm confident, I'm going to lose 10 pounds in 3 weeks) and repeat it over and over and over again throughout the day. I've read many self development books that promote this method and it really does work. TRY IT!!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently in the process of losing those 10 pounds and so far lost about 4.....wish me luck:)
And Nai, I'm so extremely proud of you for doing this. It is a wonderful, fun idea and it can truly benefit others. You're also a very eloquent writer. Proud babes.....keep it up.
Oh, and thanks for recommending 'skinny bitch'.....gonna check it out.
Love Sharia
www.syasin.qbeautyzone.com
Hi Safia,
ReplyDeleteLove the blog, truely proud of you.
We agree with you that repetition breeds habit. Half the battle is making the effort to repeat the task, then your on the right track. We are proud to say that we have now successfully entered into our 4th year as active gym members and we have to tell you some days it has been a real struggle. We now commit to three gym visits per week. Now thats not to say that we have achieved our size/fitness goals, but those were probably highly unrealistic targets in the first place.
One tip we have for all you out there is find a "buddy". You need that someone who will force to you get up and do it on those days that you would rather curl up in bed and think about changing.
A & M
Setting realistic goals will help you achieve what you have set out to do (ie: New Year's Resolution). Everyday or at least 3 times a week, I make a list
ReplyDeleteof things I want to get done, from watering my plants to e-mailing my friends and to even exercise. So far, I have been keeping
up with my list and checking everything off. Instead of procrastinating and waiting for 'the right time'. There is no 'right time' to get things done.
It's either you're going to do it or you're not. (By the way, my list as usually small b/c you can't get everything checked off a long list, save it for another day).
If you know you can't make it to the gym at least 3 times a week, then why pay for a membership. In my opinion, that is just a waste of money.
To know if you're committed to working out, first try at home for at least a month. If you can work out every week without missing a scheduled work out at home
then realistically you can commit to a gym.
I KNOW that I can not commit to going to a gym. I'm lazy. I know it. But I have found an alternative.
The Nintendo Wii, not only does it keep my butt off the sofa/bed it gives me extra energy and it's a great way to keep in shap and be active.
Everyone is different and have their own method to doing what suits them, but the key (from what I've learned) is to make realistic goals.
I hope this helps.
Thanks Saf for creating this fantastic medium for people to share their ideas and thoughts, which will benefit us all.
xoxo
M
Thank you all for your insightful input.We got some great suggestions and I'm sure it was a help to everyone. I know it was for me. I started making lists again(thanks Marie) and adding little motivational post it notes to myself on my mirror. I used to do this but maybe its a good time to get back into it.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for supporting my first post.Let's keep the feedback comming.
I was thinking more about staying motivated. Along with setting realistic goals, you can not depend on anyone else to achieve your goals.
ReplyDeleteOne person wrote get a buddy to go with you to the gym and to help keep you motivated. I've tried that before. You can't depend on your friends or even your partner to help you get to the gym. If you don't have it in you to motivate yourself, no one else can do it for you. Then there is always the buddy who flakes out, then what do you do when that happens?
If you are going to find a buddy, make sure it's a person who can commit to the task and won't keep you back from attaining your goal.
I'm sure everyone uses facebook and checks it daily. I posted a picture of myself in a bikini on my FB WALL. I was in my best shape and want to get that body back. Everytime I check my FB I see the pic and it keeps me motivated to get back to that look.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it's a private post so only I can see it. It's a great reminder to myself.
The last person made a very valid point, you do need to find a dependable buddy. You need someone to motivate you not to bring you down.This was a great suggestion.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I think the key to losing weight is NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT. When you over work your brain and try to convince yourself that you need to, thats when you fail. I've given birth a year ago to my second son and I've never really "tried" to lose the baby/extra weight. I just eat whatever I wanted BUT IN MODERATION, and I think that is the key. In regards to the exercising, do what fits into your schedule. Whether its walking, running or taking your baby for a walk for half an hour around the block,even running up and down your stairs a day consistently is a good way to get some cardio in. At least 30 mins of cardio 3 times a week is sufficient enough to help you drop extra pounds, but of course we all know this. Try making it part of your schedule, just like everything else that seems to fit. Once you get started in a routine, its hard to break it. So try getting the exercise in at the same time everyday.
ReplyDeleteHey Saf, I didn't know you were such a great writer. I guess there is some value in the whole college thing afterall :)
ReplyDeleteGreat Work..Keep it up and I wish you 1 million page views in 2010 :)