Some people have their routines down. They wake up, make their morning coffee, head to the gym, go to work, and everything just seems perfectly fine! But if you are anything like me, staying consistent and following a routine can be difficult. I work better in creative outbursts and then, after a while, I’ll stop and hit a wall.
So, how can someone overcome this hurdle? Small, daily steps.
Don't get me wrong - being consistent is important. It's what separates the good from the great, and it's especially apparent in Olympic athletes or professional speakers. You can tell they've spent a lot of hours working on their craft.
The same applies to you. To achieve your dreams and goals in life, you need to embody consistency in your routine, habits, and lifestyle. Otherwise, you might find yourself struggling to succeed in your aspirations. Think of it this way: the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
In our lives, we often set big goals for ourselves, whether it's landing a new job, losing weight, or learning a new skill. But sometimes, these goals can feel overwhelming, and we may not know where to start. That's where the power of small steps comes in.
Follow these tips to help you get back on track because the truth is, to have consistency is not natural. It's something you make happen.
Rest
Before anything, check in with yourself. How are you feeling? How are your energy levels?
The 5 pillars of wellness—rest, nutrition, movement, mindfulness, and connection—are crucial elements that uphold your consistency and well-being. Without proper energy, you will be unable to keep up with your habits, routines, and goals. Treat these pillars of wellness as your basic needs, and make sure to remove any distractions – whether that be alcohol, drugs, or certain behaviors that would stop you from achieving your five sources of energy.
Take a Step-By-Step Approach
When people attempt to be consistent, sometimes they may overwhelm themselves by trying to do everything at once. A new diet, new workout routine, new work schedule…it may feel all too daunting to continue pursuing. Before you know it, you might find yourself falling off of the consistent wheel. Instead, it is important to take a step back and slowly build towards creating consistent habits.Try starting with 10 minutes a day and build your way up to 30 minutes a day after a week’s time. Increasing the duration over time is the way to go.
Time Blocking
If you are someone who has many tasks and responsibilities to balance throughout the week, time blocking is your best friend. It can be easy to fall off a routine or to save certain responsibilities to do for “later,” which, in the end, never gets done.Time blocking is beneficial to building a consistent routine because it enables you to prioritize specific tasks and helps you gain better control of your calendar. When you are more organized and have control over your schedule, you can fill in at what times you prefer to do certain activities, such as when you perform deep work the best or when you are more creative. By doing so,you might find yourself being more productive with your time, which may cause you to procrastinate less.
Choose Discipline, Not Motivation
You might feel tempted to rely on motivation to keep yourself consistent. Motivation is typically that spark of excitement you feel when you start something new. However, discipline is what keeps you going. When you are learning to build consistency, you must not rely on motivation because motivation is simply a feeling. Rather, self-discipline is what pushes you to take on things, even during the moments when you don’t feel like it.
