Motivation. Such an intimidating word. Motivation is a very personal experience, it truly comes from within. No one can boost your motivation for you, but there are many external factors that can alter it.
Throughout the journey of life, or weight loss, motivation tends to rise and fall. Life sometimes gets in the way and can teeter our motives in either direction. The key to sustaining high motivation levels is to be reminded of it. We all have good and bad days; sometimes those breakroom treats just won’t stop calling our names. Sometimes we feel we could run a marathon after work. Each day is different, but each day is the chance to ask ourselves, “Am I motivated to make my health a priority today?”
Motivating factors are all around us. It is up to us to grab those motives and turn them into accomplishments. Here are some ways to keep up with motivation for those days we’d rather just Netflix and chill.
1. Remember your why:
This is probably the biggest motivator of them all. When times get tough, it can be very uplifting to stop, breathe, and think for a minute about why we started this journey in the first place. Whether it’s about weight loss, a fitness goal, or a work-related goal, being reminded of why we started in the first place can bring back that fire. Something within sparked us to start the mission in the first place. Write down what the reason was and be reminded of it each day. Keep your WHY in sight to keep that flame burning.
2. Check in with your goals:
Having an overall goal is important in all areas of life. But having smaller goals is what makes that large one seem more achievable. When we break down our goals into smaller ones, we feel more accomplished the more we check off the list. As the week progresses, give yourself a chance to check-in with your weekly goals and reflect; what is working well, what needs to be tweaked, how will achieving this goal bring you one step closer to your big goal? Taking the time to check-in and reflect on your goals will help keep your motivation consistent, day to day.
3. Be kind to yourself:
Sometimes, life happens. Being realistic about your journey is very important. There will be slip-ups, bumps in the road, and hurdles to jump. How you handle these situations will determine your motivation levels. Altering our negative thoughts into positive ones can be a challenge, but what a difference they can make! Don’t think “Ugh, I just don’t want to workout after work today”; think to yourself “I have the chance to workout today and make my health a priority”. Reframing our thoughts will spike our desire to conquer our goals. But remember, to be kind to yourself. Negative self-talk does nothing but compress our progress. Turning negative thoughts into positive ones can make the journey a little bit easier. If you don’t believe in yourself, how do you expect others to believe in you?
4. Celebrate your victories:
No matter how small, always celebrate your wins. Did you go for a walk today? Chalk it up as a win! Did you add an extra serving of vegetables to your day? High five! It’s very easy to focus on the negatives and what we do “wrong”. But not everything has to be so terrible. There is a win somewhere in the day. As small as it may seem, it’s the small wins that add up to be victories. The smaller wins show us how we can accomplish things and push us further into a reaching distance of our overall goal. Each time you get to check something off your list, celebrate you!
5. Surround yourself with positivity:
Easier said than done. People will talk, make comments, and give their unwanted opinions. But as Taylor Swift sings, ‘the haters are going to hate’. Block out the noise that does not bring something positive to your day. Surround yourself with those who support you and your journey. Take the time to read positive quotes and messages. Social media can be full of negativity, but it can also spread positivity. Look up inspirational quotes on those days where you need a little pep in your step or reach out to a friend for a quick chat. The more you think and talk about positivity, the more you will be positive and the easier the journey will be.
So, go put on your favorite song, dance it off, get back out there, and tackle those goals head on!
