We often talk about motivation as it relates to one particular task, like working out.
A burst of energy, a shot of motivation, a jolt of dedication to get us through our checklist of Stuff We Want to Do.
But what if you thought about it as a steady state of motivation and energy – like running in, say, fourth gear all the time instead of revving and breaking, revving and breaking…?
If you can stay in an excited, high-energy state, then you’ll be. More likely to stay in consistent action. It’s one of the basic rules of physics, remember? If you’re in motion, you’ll stay in motion… if you’re sitting still, well… you know the rest!
So, here’s what I recommend to keep your motor running so you don’t have to GET it running over and over.
First, think about the activities you do that excite you.
- Exercise?
- Work?
- A creative hobby?
Identify them and then drill down to get more specific. Do you like getting your heartrate up, contributing meaningfully to your company, or expressing yourself artistically? Once you’re aware of the true source of the power, you can hold onto and replicate that positivity elsewhere in life.
Second, nurture and express curiosity.
- Try new activities, relationships, food, points of view…
- Read about others’ experiences
- Talk to people you admire about what keeps them going
This doesn’t mean you’re always looking for something BETTER as much as it means you like learning and remaining open to possibilities.
Third, assess your environment and routines.
Think about design concepts that promote positive flow and high energy. Look around you, and at what you do every day… What energizes you? What can you improve or make more pleasing? If your car’s a mess, clean it out. If your home is dark, open some windows!
If traffic drags you down every morning, experiment with driving at different times. What if you started your day without that frustration?
Fourth, practice self-care.
Plan and keep ordinary appointments with doctors, dentists, therapists, hair stylists, and trainers. Meditate or pray. Stay in touch with friends and family.
Think of self-care as maintenance. Remember: Keep your motor running.
Fifth, record what you’re doing.
Keep a journal, or at least have regular conversations with a trusted friend or adviser.
It’s important to systematically pay attention to how your emotions and mindset respond. Think about it. Get excited about it.
All of these build on each other to get you in that state of perpetual motion. You’ll be running so smoothly you can’t help but get where you’re going faster and happier.
“I know what to do… but I have a hard time staying consistent.”
When life gets crazy and responsibilities at home and work pile one on top of the other, it’s easy to let our health and fitness slip. The years go by and we don’t even realize how much our health has declined.
But for most of us, there comes a time when we realize things must change. A time when gaining control over our body takes on new urgency.
For some, it’s a scary health diagnosis. For others it’s watching a loved one struggle with their own health problems. And for others still, it’s when they finally realize they’ve spent so many years taking care of others, that they neglected to take care of themselves.
When it’s time to turn things around and start a new health and fitness program, however, it can be difficult to know what to do next. And staying motivated is hard — especially if you try to do it all on your own.
That’s where I come in.
My goal is to help you feel energetic and fabulous and stay that way. Starting now.
This is where Healing Inside Out Comes in. Follow the link to learn more..
