Let’s be honest: it’s never easy to change something in your life. But sometimes you still have to do it. Where can we get inspiration to bring our plans to life? How not to give up and finish the job?
When we leave our comfort zone and try something different, at first it seems to us that it is foreign to us. Change always brings some discomfort, and often we quickly return to the usual way of life without really trying to consolidate new good habits.
Here are 10 tips to help you make a real difference and build on your success.
1. Set aside time in your schedule for regular practice.
To build a new habit, set aside time every day to exercise and practice. For example, if you want to start meditating daily, set aside 10-15 minutes for meditation every morning to begin with. Want to train yourself to run 3 times a week? Set aside time for running after work or during your lunch break. Mark your calendar and try to take the practice as seriously as the work. Don’t let yourself skip class for no reason.
2. Make a “contract” with yourself
By writing down our goals on paper and periodically rereading these records, we help ourselves to stay on track. In this case, it is better to make notes by hand, and not type on a computer. Research shows that by describing goals clearly, clearly and in detail, we increase our chances of success by as much as 42%!
3. Reward yourself for success
Rewards are a great way to motivate, so give yourself a little “bonus” after every practice or workout. It can be something very simple – for example, a cup of aromatic coffee. The reward creates a positive association in our brain with the new activity, helping to form the habit.
4. Appreciate any achievement
Often we see success only as the achievement of an end goal. But it will be much easier for you to stay motivated if you see your daily progress towards this goal. Appreciate your efforts and small achievements – for example, the fact that you regularly exercise, giving up something else for the sake of it, or learning something new about a healthy lifestyle all the time. Big changes start small.
5. Decide every day what will be a priority today.
Decide at the beginning of the day what you are going to achieve today. It is not necessary to make long and detailed plans, just decide what you will focus on today. It is useful to repeat a simple affirmation or mantra several times: “Today I want to achieve a state of peace and tranquility”, “Today I will try to focus on the positive.”
6. Set clear goals for yourself.
It is desirable that the goals are formulated clearly and simply. For example: you want to exercise for a month three times a week for half an hour. The main goal often involves several additional ones: for example, you need to keep track of your class schedule or arrange with a friend to run together.
7. Track your progress
It is best to keep a diary for this purpose, in which you will indicate the time and date of your practices or training (you can also simply mark them on the calendar with checkmarks, colored stickers, or in another way). In the future, you will have the opportunity to appreciate how far you have traveled during this time.
8. Be inspired by your idols
Find a role model for yourself: let it be someone who admires you for their resilience, perseverance, ability to overcome difficulties and achieve your goals. When your motivation starts to wane, ask yourself: what would this person do in your place? Hang up a picture of him and a few favorite quotes in a conspicuous place. You can also add some inspirational quotes from other authors.
9. Try to schedule your practices or workouts in the morning
By the evening, we are all tired and often we no longer have enough willpower to force ourselves to study or train, so it is better to plan such classes for the first half of the day, if possible.
10. Treat yourself with kindness and compassion
It is always difficult to change something, and by being too strict with yourself and harsh self-criticism, you will reliably discourage yourself from further studies. If you start evaluating your progress on an all-or-nothing basis and berate yourself for the slightest setbacks, you will soon drop everything and return to the old way of life.
Failure is inevitable and we all have bad days. Being compassionate about yourself helps you stay motivated and less worried about temporary difficulties. Remember that the journey itself is often just as important as the end result.
Making sustainable change for the better will require self-discipline and hard work. But by acquiring new healthy and important habits, you will get much more than if you stayed in your comfort zone.