It’s really hard to push yourself into being consistent. Going after the so desired discipline and sticking with the plan of daily exercising, diet, self-educational course or an exam studying could be fun when it’s a brand new idea. The first few days it’s always amusing - you put on those check marks and the view of the ‘done’ written next to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in your calendar fills you with joy. The days or luckily the weeks go on.
And slowly but surely the goal starts losing its attraction
It’s exactly like living with someone. At first you’re excited, you can’t even imagine getting used to that feeling of a soulmate that’s always there - chopping tomatoes, laying next to you and watching movies. Nothing makes you angry, nevermind his socks are always in the middle of the living room or that he puts his empty glass everywhere but in the sink. You are sure that all those ‘magic will be gone’ talks from the magazines are just braggins of people who are extremely unsuccessful in keeping a relationship. And then a few years after you see yourself exactly there, maybe still happy, maybe in a perfect ‘home’ balance but always not in the ‘first days magic state’.
The same happens with your scheduled leading-to-success-activities.
You still realize that they are the right way and that they are what you need to get to the prize. But right then and there the daily deal-breakers happen:
Excuses are human brain’s favourite comfort food. Your brain is doing all it can to help the body and the mind escape from the suffering that you’re trying to put them through while completing your daily success routine. You cannot go outside and run because it’s raining and there is no evidence for a change in the forecast. And yes, the sky seems to you so grey, you are sure there is a storm coming. A home workout wouldn’t do good too, because… hey, these are always ineffective. So nothing can be done, the conditions are so and so and there you go, you’re skipping your training for today. Tomorrow you’ll double it.
It almost never works. You never double it tomorrow because maybe tomorrow it will be too windy.
Try to avoid such excuses. There is almost always a way not to skip the plan. One excuse always drags another.
Oh, that chocolate block… After all, only one could not do harm. Or you just can’t say no to that cake that the friend you’re out with is so eagerly offering you. What if she gets offended by you not accepting it? You should go out running, but they’re just streaming your favourite movie. Running could wait a bit /usually until it gets too dark outside and the plan is ruined/.
Temptations are big deal-breakers. On top of that, the sinful pleasure that they bring is always short lasting and you end up blaming yourself into falling over. I always feel tricked after eating that extra piece of candy and realising that the feeling wasn’t worthed the fail in my regime.
Push yourself into resisting and you’ll be surprised how grateful and proud that will make you feel.
An appointment popped out exactly when your training was supposed to start. You know you can’t escape it and you already see your daily program as ruined.
Don’t surrender! Just put in a bit more of an effort and do them both! Yes, you may have to postpone the relaxation for the day but you surely won’t regret it and you’ll definitely be pleasantly surprised by yourself and your capabilities. After all, the more the task the better the engagement.
Deal-breakers happen and sometimes, however rarely, you cannot do anything to help it. That flu hits you hard and you feel powerless, everything except resting is out of the question.
Well, don’t worry, take your time. The main problem isn’t in the pause itself, it’s in how long does this pause last. People tend to forget their beneficial habits after pauses. It’s the same as the after-holiday I-don’t-want-to-work-ever-again syndrome. Try to get back to your routine asap you start feeling better, slow down maybe, but don’t quit.
Going through that lesson is simply so boring that you start calculating the chances of it appearing to the exam at all. Or even - if it does - how much will it affect your grade if you skip it. Usually, all these calculations take more time than actually reading the damn lesson and getting over with it.
Running for two hours, same track, same playlist. Could you just skip for today and tomorrow it will be better? Nope! Change the playlist but never surrender to the boredom. It’s the worst thing that you can let get you out of your way to success. Get something done differently just to make it appear new to your mind, but do not skip the routine.
Breaking the deal-breakers does not only make you keep going. It does something far more valuable - it makes you feel proud of yourself and it shows you how far you can go. And believing in yourself is exactly the ground motivation and discipline need to grow stronger and stronger. Don't give up on them!
