You can read hundreds of articles and talk about getting healthier until you’re blue in the face, but all the knowledge in the world won’t do you any good unless you’ve got the motivation to go with it. And even though getting motivated might sound like the easiest part, it’s actually the trickiest. It’s all too easy to plop down on the couch instead of hitting the gym after work, or to grab takeout instead of cooking a healthy dinner. Here are seven tips to getting and staying motivated; and for setting–and reaching–any goal you set your mind to.
- Set SMART Goals. The more specific and detailed you can be about what you’d like to achieve, the easier the process will be–and the more likely you will be to reach your goal.
- Use smaller goals to help you reach a larger goal. Focusing on a realistic target as a first step and building on that foundation gradually is often much more helpful than looking at the big picture as a whole. Achieving a series of small goals can lead to tremendous progress over time.
- Keep your motivation in mind. The first and most important step is to know WHY you want to reach the goal you have set. Sometimes, it’s as simple as reminding yourself why you’re making healthy changes and what those changes mean to you, your life and your loved ones.
- Explore. Try out lots of strategies and options. Keep the things that work for you and ditch the things that don’t. Do you hate a certain kind of exercise? Good news: You don’t have to do it! Find something else that clicks with you instead. The more you love your routine, the more likely you are to stick with it.
- Expect setbacks. Challenges will come up along your journey to a healthy lifestyle, and you’ll need to do a bit of problem solving. Barriers are common, but so are solutions. Create back-up plans for those unexpected events that might come up.
- Increase accountability. Find ways to hold yourself accountable and seek others who will hold you accountable. This will help you stay on track.
- Be positive. Research shows that keeping a positive mindset actually makes you healthier in the long run. Reflect on your progress. This is more productive and self-motivating than focusing on what’s not working.
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.”
