46 days have gone by since you pledged to stick to your diet, go to the gym, give up sugar, or eat more kale.
It’s time for a reality check.
Is your motivation waning? Your willpower depleted? Are you starting to shuffle your priorities, looking for excuses to skip a workout?
Why did you make the resolutions you did? To stick to them, you need to uncover the real reasons you want to pursue them. And that requires some digging.
Say your resolution was to lose weight. Now ask yourself why you wanted that.
Was it “To feel better about myself”? How would losing weight make you feel better? “So I can project more confidence,” you say. But why is confidence important to you? “So I can be a better role model for my kids.” Now, we’re getting somewhere.
If you dig down through a few levels of “why,” then you're more likely to get at your true source of motivation; these are the values that will have the biggest impact for you and your healthy living goals.
As James Clear wrote: “remind yourself that the things you do each day are not burdens, they are opportunities. So often, the things we view as work are actually the reward.”
You don’t “have” to eat that kale salad; you get to. It’s a reward you’re treating yourself to, just like you get to have fun with your friends at your regular Arriba class, or you get to feel energized after sweating it out on the treadmill.
Thinking about your healthy living regime in these positive terms will make you feel like you’re rewarding yourself every time you hit the gym, instead of dragging yourself through some cruel punishment.
If you find yourself constantly saying “I can’t,” it’s time to acknowledge the struggle so you can get on the path to “I can.” The first step is becoming mindful of those negative thoughts. The next time you catch yourself thinking (or saying) “I can’t,” stop and just take a breath.
What can you do, right now, to get one step closer to where you want to be? What action is in your grasp at this moment? Making the conscious effort to do something, no matter how small, will give you that satisfying feeling of being one step closer to your big goals.
Big changes are undeniably tough to make, but that’s why the payoff feels so good! Whenever you start doubting yourself, just remember: you’ve already taken the first and most important step towards better health, just by resolving to work towards it.
It’s time for a reality check.
Is your motivation waning? Your willpower depleted? Are you starting to shuffle your priorities, looking for excuses to skip a workout?
Here are 3 tips to help you get back on track:
1. Dig down deep to reveal your real motivators
Why did you make the resolutions you did? To stick to them, you need to uncover the real reasons you want to pursue them. And that requires some digging.
Say your resolution was to lose weight. Now ask yourself why you wanted that.
Was it “To feel better about myself”? How would losing weight make you feel better? “So I can project more confidence,” you say. But why is confidence important to you? “So I can be a better role model for my kids.” Now, we’re getting somewhere.
If you dig down through a few levels of “why,” then you're more likely to get at your true source of motivation; these are the values that will have the biggest impact for you and your healthy living goals.
2. Remember: you don’t “have” to do this
As James Clear wrote: “remind yourself that the things you do each day are not burdens, they are opportunities. So often, the things we view as work are actually the reward.”
You don’t “have” to eat that kale salad; you get to. It’s a reward you’re treating yourself to, just like you get to have fun with your friends at your regular Arriba class, or you get to feel energized after sweating it out on the treadmill.
Thinking about your healthy living regime in these positive terms will make you feel like you’re rewarding yourself every time you hit the gym, instead of dragging yourself through some cruel punishment.
3. Try a new path toward “I Can”
If you find yourself constantly saying “I can’t,” it’s time to acknowledge the struggle so you can get on the path to “I can.” The first step is becoming mindful of those negative thoughts. The next time you catch yourself thinking (or saying) “I can’t,” stop and just take a breath.
What can you do, right now, to get one step closer to where you want to be? What action is in your grasp at this moment? Making the conscious effort to do something, no matter how small, will give you that satisfying feeling of being one step closer to your big goals.
Big changes are undeniably tough to make, but that’s why the payoff feels so good! Whenever you start doubting yourself, just remember: you’ve already taken the first and most important step towards better health, just by resolving to work towards it.
