Pair big goals with small wins
Do this to ensure daily progress and motivation.
Because big goals can be demotivating: that burst of excitement at the beginning quickly wears off. Small wins keep your eyes on the process, not the result and help you see the progress you're making.
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They make big goals seem manageable and achievable.
They also help you to move closer to where you want to be and a constant source of motivation.
- They need little time: they have to be small and achievable in preferably under 10 minutes (more than that and you will start to lose motivation)
- They need little effort: they have to be so effortless, that you'll feel bad for not achieving them. The less effort you need to complete your small win the fewer excuses you’ll allow yourself
- Start small and once you feel comfortable, ramp things up.
- Consistency is key, so do them daily.
- Same time and locations: you’re already trying to form a new behavior so keep the other variables constant.
- Insert them into a routine: a simple way to ensure you’ll practice your new habit.
Procrastination boils down to getting started.
Small wins force you to get started, over and over again. Every day they will force you to get started on your new habit. And because it’s so small and so simple, you will.
To change your life, you need to change your habits. But developing habits is hard. Sometimes the change is too big and you lose your motivation.
So focus on micro changes. Aim to improve 1% every single day until it becomes a part of your routine.
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- Find a friend or group of friends to build the habits with you.
- Cultivate discipline with consequences: Every time I skip ______________ this month, I will pay $50 to my wife/husband/friend.
- Never miss two in a row.
- Don't pick the habits you hate.
- Consider combining a habit you dislike with something you LOVE, and you’ll be more likely to build the habit. Allow yourself an hour of watching Netflix, but ONLY while you’re on the Elliptical.
Long-term goals are your most powerful motivators. If your ‘why’ is strong enough, you’ll find your ‘how’.
Create a vision board. Make affirmations. Put it on your phone’s lock screen. Whatever it takes.
- Increases focus;
- Deeper level of learning, order, action, and release;
- Holding thoughts still so they can be changed and integrated;
- Releasing pent-up thoughts and emotions;
- Empowerment;
- Bridging inner thinking with outer events;
- Detaching and letting go of the past;
- Allowing you to re-experience the past with today’s adult mind.