How to Stay Motivated and Achieve Your Goals

Introduction

We all have moments in our lives when we feel unmotivated and down.

Maybe you're struggling to hit your fitness goals or finding it hard to stay on track with your diet.

Whatever the case, it's important to remember that you're not alone in feeling this way.

The Mistake of Setting the Bar Too High

One of the biggest mistakes we make when trying to achieve our goals is setting the bar too high.

We put too much pressure on ourselves to achieve big goals quickly, and when we inevitably fall short, we feel deflated and unmotivated.

But what if there was a different way?

The Power of Setting Smaller Goals

What if we set smaller goals for ourselves instead of trying to force motivation?

It may sound counterintuitive, but hear me out.

Removing motivation from the equation and aiming for less can be more beneficial.

Because, after all, motivation comes and goes and isn't something that you can always rely on feeling.

When we set small, realistic goals, we're more likely to achieve them.

And when we achieve our goals, even if they're small, we feel a sense of accomplishment and pride.

This, in turn, builds momentum and motivation.

“Small daily improvements are the key to staggering long-term results.”

– Jason Fried

Mark's Story: A Real-Life Example

Take Mark, for example.

Mark had always been active, but he had recently hit a major roadblock in his fitness journey.

He had set a goal to run a marathon in six months but wanted help to stay motivated. He often skipped his morning runs and reached for unhealthy snacks instead of sticking to his goal.

Mark asked me if there was anything I could do to help him stay motivated. I suggested he try setting smaller goals instead of pushing himself too hard. I reminded him that he, not anyone else, defined his success.

Mark realised that he had been putting too much pressure on himself to achieve this big goal in a short amount of time. So he decided to take a step back and reassess his plans.

Instead of focusing on running a marathon in six months - which felt impossible, Mark set smaller, manageable goals for himself. He decided that for the next week, his goal was to run three times, eat at least two pieces of fruit per day, and reduce his alcohol intake to avoid being hungover.

Mark was surprised at how much easier it was to stay motivated with these smaller goals.

He found that by focusing on what he could realistically achieve in the next week, he was able to build momentum and stay on track.

Each week, Mark set new, small goals for himself and slowly but surely, he saw progress.

Six months later, Mark was proud to say that he had completed his first marathon.

But even more important to him was his progress along the way.

He had learned to listen to his body, set realistic goals, and, most importantly, be kind to himself.

Conclusion

Mark's story reminds us that progress takes time and we all have unique journeys.

Removing motivation from the equation and aiming for less can be more beneficial. A week of wins, every week builds motivation.

And remember, what winning looks like is entirely up to you. So don't be afraid to set small goals and never give up on yourself.

Think about what you can easily accomplish between now and next Sunday.

And then make a conscious decision to either achieve it or not. It's that simple.

And remember, don't be too hard on yourself.

Keep going, and don't give up on yourself. You got this!

And Remember ...

If you are local to Places Gym Hinckley, Leicestershire, get in touch to book personal training sessions.

I help people like you lose weight, look and feel younger, boost self-confidence, and move past the idea of 'just getting older'.

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