Capitalize on Your Motivation
by Erik Castiglione
Happy New Year, Relentless Family!
It’s 2019, and hopefully most of you set a resolution, or even better, a SMART goal. The promise of endless possibilities brought in by the new year sounds great, and can be incredibly motivating. If you’ve set resolutions in the past, then you probably know that the motivation fades, and most people aren’t successful beyond the first month. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this year is going to be more of the same. The good new is that it’s normal for motivation to fade, and in understanding how it works, we can capitalize on your motivation to make sure that you’re successful in achieving your goals and resolutions.
Motivation is a wonderful feeling – with it comes passion, energy, and determination. The problem with motivation, however, is just that: it’s a feeling; an emotion. And, like all emotions, it’s fleeting. If you rely solely on motivation, you’re likely to fail. Take a look at the graph below for a clear illustration of this process:
Okay, now that we’ve crushed your dreams, what next? Well, we at CFR are here to help you through the suck, so that your inevitable loss of motivation doesn’t hinder your goals. How do we do this? By developing discipline. When your motivation is lacking, your discipline will ensure that you keep working.
The key to becoming disciplined is to develop routines and habits that are easy to follow, and to do so WHILE you’re feeling motivated. Pay attention to the process, rather than focusing solely on the goal. In other words, focus on each individual step you are taking, and make note of it. When your motivation disappears, take it one step at a time and you’ll be okay.
For example, let’s say your goal is weight loss. What systems can you implement to make sure you stay on track? I recommend setting appointments in your calendar, the same way you would for any type of meeting. For example, maybe you schedule time to do your food shopping on Saturday, and weekly meal prep on Sunday. Make it the same time each week, so that it becomes part of your routine. Similarly, schedule schedule your gym classes during the week so that you can make sure you hit the number of sessions you’ve decided upon. Not feeling like working out after a long day? Go anyway. I’m officially on the record saying that showing up is half the battle. Often, just showing up and getting moving can restore your motivation for that training session. The last step would be to schedule your pre-bedtime routine to make sure you get to sleep at a reasonable time each night. Taking these steps one at a time is very manageable, and it’s a good start towards your goal.
Motivation is fickle; it ebbs and flows, and inevitably fades. When you’re motivated, establish systems in place that will help you stay on point when you’re not feeling motivated. Take it step by step, and you may find that your motivation returns. Even if you don’t, you’ll still be successful. This will make you more disciplined in the long run, and in turn, you’ll succeed where others fail. Need a little more help setting a goal or establishing steps to get there? Talk to a coach! Let’s make 2019 your most successful year yet!