Is Consistency Really Key?
Over the past few years, I have seen so many of our members struggle to stay consistent with the goals they set. They would make goals, legitimate things they wanted to achieve, or ways they wanted to better themselves, and not stick to it. Whether it be prepping their meals for a busy week, setting aside time for 4 workouts per week, or even just making time to read/de-stress an hour a week.
They would focus on their goal for a few weeks or even for an entire challenge, and then fall off; whether it be due to a shift in schedule or if they suddenly became more busy. That was extremely frustrating seeing; not being able to stick to the goals they set for themselves. I’m sure almost everyone can relate to falling short of the expectations you set for yourself. Do you constantly make excuses like, “Work is so busy and I’m working over time almost every day, it’s almost impossible to plan a consistent schedule.”
I thought I would share through some tips on how you can become more consistent with your health and fitness goals for the future.
- Be in the Right Mindset
You have to know your why... why is accomplishing this goal important to you? How will it ultimately improve your life? If you don’t have a compelling enough answer for yourself, then you probably won’t stick to it since it’s not that important to you. You have to want to change bad enough, because when the going gets tough, you’ll quit. Nobody wants to sacrifice for something that they don’t see a lot of value in.
(Are your goals all aesthetic based, or do you have another goal you want to achieve?
MPT member Brooke smashed an 8 week challenge goal - something she would never have dreamed of doing in the past?)
- Make the Habit a Priority
During times when people aren’t in the right mindset, have you noticed that your schedule is very disheveled? Perhaps you would jump out of bed 20 minutes before needing to leave for work, throw on clothes, and head out the door. No wonder you may have trouble sticking to your goals. When would you find time to make a green smoothie or organise your lunch for the day?
The most effective way to turn your goal into a habit is to plan ahead. You can’t hope that your goals will happen to fit into your current schedule, or that by nature you will prioritise it. You have to plan your schedule and block out time. That could mean scheduling 2 hours every Sunday for your meal prep day for the week. Organising to do 2 morning workouts before work starts so if you do have to work overtime you can for sure know you have already trained.
(MPT member John is prepped and ready for post 8 week challenge. Having lost 10kg's+, he plans on contuining the momentum and continuing reaching his goals)
- Have an Accountability Buddy
An accountability buddy can work really well when you’re doing everything else right. For instance, when you and your buddy are both committed to your goals then there is no way you will let the other person down. The problem is that sometimes it can fizz out when you are both not committed to being accountability buddies, and other daily life things take precedent.
Moral of the story, an accountability buddy can help you make strides in your goals. The key is finding someone reliable and truly committed. If you can’t find someone to be an accountability buddy, tell a friend or your family about what you plan to do, OR let us know and we can pair you up with someone.
(When training doesn't become a chore but something you WANT to be doing. MPT Brunswick members; encouraging, motivating + supportive)
At the end of the day, success in anything comes from making it a priority. Wanting to achieve something isn’t enough. You have to make the conscious effort to better your life. It’s not easy, but it can be a very rewarding feeling when you accomplish something you set out to do. Now I’m not saying that you shouldn’t set reminders, but you shouldn’t solely rely on that to keep you accountable to your goals. You should strive to make your new challenge an everyday part of your life, to where it becomes second nature like brushing your teeth. It should almost become a passion of yours, that you think about every day. Make the conscious effort to hold yourself accountable to your goals.