Motivation doesn’t always show up when we want it to.
Waiting until you get that burst of energy to start or finish a project isn’t exactly ideal, especially when time is of the essence.
When motivation doesn’t strike, don’t give up! Try out healthy habits instead.
Begin With The End in Mind
Take time to reflect on what is important to you and begin with the end in mind.
Just imagine how proud and accomplished you’ll feel when that task gets checked off your list.
Thinking about how complicated or scary a task at hand may be certainly won’t make the process any easier.
In fact, it can bring on anxiety and stress.
And you know what? Once you actually get started, the task may be easier than you originally anticipated.
Start Small & Work Your Way Up
Ease into your new habits slowly and start small.
What sounds easier….
Doing 100 pushups a day for a week?
or,
Doing one pushup today, two pushups tomorrow, three pushups the next day etc.?
Yes, it will take you a bit longer to get to the 100 pushup goal – but the overall process will be much less overwhelming, and you can work at your own pace.
The more you practice committing your time and energy to something, the more you get used to doing it – even if you don’t love it.
Link Habits To Your Routine
Establishing a new habit can be a lot easier if you link it to an existing one.
Here’s an example.
Let’s say you’d love to start reading every day but feel like you don’t have the time. You work long hours, and by the time you get home, all you want to do is spend time with family and go to sleep.
A great hack is to pick just one daily habit you already have and combine the two – such as drinking coffee on the porch.
All you’ll have to do is bring a book out a book when you drink your coffee so that you can do both at the same time.
If you keep at it long enough, before you know it, that activity will likely become second nature.
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” -Jim Ryun
