What are your goals? What would you like to do more of in your life? What is stopping you?
The reason many of us don't do or start the things we want to is that they can seem overwhelming. The thought of getting fit, learning a new hobby or decluttering our home for example, can seem like a huge mountain to climb.
The key is in getting a balance between creating exciting goals and challenges and being realistic about how you are going to achieve them. Realism sometimes gets a bad name in personal development circles but without concrete ways to make your goals part of your daily life, you are less likely to succeed.
I shared in a recent post about my tendency to get very excited and motivated at the beginning of something new. I know that energy and enthusiasm is useful but my challenge is to learn how to sustain that over time so that it doesn't taper off when the initial excitement wears off. Here is how I have done that:
The Power Of Ten Minutes
Rather than thinking I have to do an hour of exercise, I now try to make sure I do at least ten minutes of exercise a day. I used to think that ten minutes wouldn't really be worth doing, but actually ten minutes a day adds up to an hour and ten minutes a week and I have found that I am more likely to be able to find the time to do it. I get out of bed and do yoga in my pyjamas sometimes, which brings me to my next point.
Remove Obstacles
Make it easy for yourself to succeed. If you really don't like getting up in the morning, don't plan your new hobby for that time. If you find it easier to declutter when everyone else is out, schedule that time in then. Look at your day and see when the most suitable time is for you. I removed my obstacles of spending money on a yoga class and the time of doing a class each week by buying a yoga DVD to do my ten minutes of yoga each day. It has made it much more likely that I will continue to do it and has become something I look forward to each day and that I miss if I don't do it.
Build Momentum
You don't have to stay at ten minutes if you want to do more, but embedding the ten minute habit to start with helps you to build momentum and your muscle around doing whatever it is you are doing.
Create A Habit
It is said that it takes thirty days to create a new habit. The idea is that you embed your ten minute habit into your life for thirty days and it will be easier to maintain. Once I got used to my ten minutes of yoga per day, it had just become something that I do each day now. I have lost weight, toned up and feel healthier than I have done in a long time.
What could you start doing for ten minutes a day? Ten minutes a day is seventy minutes a week, 280 minutes a month and 3360 minutes a year. Think of what you could achieve in that time!
Are you feeling stuck in your life or your business?
If you enjoyed this and are also interested in working on changing an area of your life or business, then book your free consultation with me here at my coaching page.
Hi Jen,
ReplyDeleteI like the Remove Obstacles advice. I often hear advice like 'get out of bed earlier' if you want to achieve your goal. The problem is that it can mean that you then have to go to bed earlier in the evening to get your full 8 hours. This may not work if you have family or a partner. Or just because you are not tired then you lie awake and feel exhausted in the morning because you haven't slept well. I think it's much better to follow your own rhythm and best time of day.
Hi Janice
ReplyDeleteI agree - I think working out how you tick is vital. Since I have embraced my rhythms and what works best for me, I have found it so much easier to stick to my goals. I always recommend this in coaching. As you said, its easy to say "get up earlier" etc, but any goal needs to work for your life - and we're all different.
Thanks for stopping by! :)
Jen
Hi Jen - another useful post!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to add, I've found it often more powerful to add one new habit at a time rather than a bunch of new ones - such as new year.
You make a great point about building momentum, "You don't have to stay at ten minutes if you want to do more" -- Often the hardest part is getting the running trainers on or opening the workbook. Usually once we're a few minutes into an activity it's alot easier to keep going.
Congratulations on losing weight and toning up. That sounds great!
Hiya Rob! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
That's such a good point - one at a time gives you the opportunity to concentrate and focus making it more likely that you will succceed.
I have found the same with momentum, often I do things for longer than ten minutes but knowing you don't have to takes that initial pressure off.
Thank you - it made me realise how powerful it is to do a little every day! I used to be "all or nothing" in my approach to change but i am really finding slow and gradual commitment makes the difference for me.
Thanks for your thoughts. :)
Jen