Written by: Briana Wright @misswrighttv
Photo Credit: @misswrighttv | As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
In one of my recent YouTube videos, I took my viewers to a natural state park in ATL for a picnic to clear my mind (link to picnic materials).What I was struggling with was staying motivated; more importantly, doing so despite the results not coming in.
I've talked about discipline before and keys to achieving it, which have been super helpful! But now that I'm sticking to a plan, how do I continue to stick to it? It's not always easy to wake up every single day motivated to achieve your goals. Especially when it feels like time is flying and nothing has changed. Or, like you're not getting the support and the results you believe you deserve.
So, what do you do when you feel this way? That really depends on you. You may need a recoup day. You may need to burn through the work and reward yourself after as incentive to get it done. There's plenty ideas, but as for solutions to stop the hump all together- I have 3:
1. ENJOY THE PROCESS
This is easier said than done but focusing on the results will stifle your success. Reason being, focusing on the outcome takes away from the process itself. Your mission might be in the wrong place.
Like with any job, if you're only in it for the money you lack fulfillment. If your goal is to achieve something that actually fulfills you, then you should be taking your time to enjoy the process of reaching that goal.
For example, if you want to lose weight you should be in it for more than just looking snatched for IG. If you're doing it for yourself and your health, you'll realize that every step in the process is improving that! Stop getting on the scale every single day and start finding new, exciting workouts, healthy recipes, fitness coaches, etc. Make sense?
Another easy way to remember this step to think about how fast time goes by when you're having fun. When you're watching the clock while waiting to get off of work, the time goes slow as molasses. So, have fun throughout your process and you'll arrive at those results before you know it!
2. BE PATIENT
We've all heard that Rome wasn't built in a day and this is a FACT! You cannot rush greatness, so why are you trying to rush your accomplishments?
Social media makes it difficult because people often only show the highlights of their life, making it seem like they've achieved overnight success. However, the reality is so far from that! It could have taken them years to get where they're at for all you know!
To avoid this misconception all together, do your best not to compare yourself to anyone else's journey. When you see others in the place that you want to be, look to them for inspo and congratulate them! Ask for advice if you can, but whatever you do- DO NOT COMPARE. Your journey is YOUR'S ONLY!
The quicker you learn to be patient, the easier it'll be to live in the moment. Get better at your craft by putting time and energy into it. Much like journalism, a great reporter will take their time to write a quality article that is accurate. The inexperienced reporter will rush their work to post first and deliver sloppy, inaccurate content.
Don't be the latter.
Last but not least,
3. BE CONSISTENT
This step is most important to me because to expect you to be motivated every single day is unrealistic. You will have bad days, it's a part of life. BUT, if you have consistency not even a bad day can affect you.
Like brushing your teeth or washing your hands, you don't think about not doing those things every day because it is a part of your lifestyle. Eventually, working on your craft will feel the same way if you're consistent enough.
The goal is to work toward your goal every single day to the point that it's like muscle memory. When you don't have the energy or the motivation, you'll have consistency.
I haven't read it yet, but I imagine that the popular self-help book "Atomic Habits" touches on consistency a lot. It's next up on my reading list and if you're struggling with consistency, it should be on your's too.
Whether you read it or not, turning the process of achieving your goals into a habit is a major key to succeeding. Now, enjoying that process, taking your time throughout it AND maintaining consistency will GUARANTEE you success!