What
will keep you motivated toward your goal? The answer, keep your eyes on it. Never lose site of what you
are working toward. Look at the picture and the reward you
will reap when you finally reach your goal. Goals seem so far
in the future and so hard to reach unless you break them down
into small steps that allow you to track your progress.
Action
creates motivation, so if you want to stay motivated,
stay actively working on that goal. The more you work on it,
the more motivated it keeps you. In addition, remember, there
is an attractive prize at the end, whether it’s weight loss,
better health or a project you want to accomplish.
Setting goals in small steps can keep you motivated to continue
toward the big project. Make the goals so they can be charted
and you can watch the progress of what you’re working toward.
Make concrete goals that are measurable. If you’re writing
a book, set a goal to complete a chapter a week, or a day if
you have the time to do it. Set a goal for the month such as
I want to write 15 chapters this month. At the end of the month,
you can look at your manuscript and see if you made your goal.
If you did, make it a little higher for the next month. Stretch
yourself but be practical. If the coming month has two holidays,
three birthdays and two public appearances, then cut back on
the goal so you can reach it. If your goals are set too high,
it can be frustrating if you are not reaching them and you
are more likely to give up. They also shouldn’t be too easy,
a challenge will keep you motivated to keep typing away on
those pages with the end of the book in mind.
Have fun while working toward your goal. We need
a break from a project, even if it’s something we want with
all our heart. If you are working on a weight loss and exercise
goal, vary what you’re doing. If you always use a stationary
bike each day, why not change the routine and map out a mile
or two to walk in your neighborhood. They say variety is the
spice of life and it can keep your motivation going if you
change your timetable around a little bit. Are you used to
studying or writing in the evening? Try waking up early in
the morning and spending quiet time before the busyness of
the day takes over.
Involve your friends and family in your project. You are more
likely to stay motivated if you have told someone what your
goals are. If you are exercising or walking, find a partner.
It will make it much more probable that you will continue to
walk at a specified time and go to the gym. If you fail to
show up, your partner will motivate you to come the next time.
You are held accountable to someone else. If you are working
alone, if you decide to not exercise or not write, you will
only have yourself to shake things up and give you the push
you need to get started again.
Don’t let discouragement take your eyes off the final goal.
Sure, if we’re dieting there are going to be times when we
fall off the eating plan. Instead of getting mad or discouraged,
simply accept it as something that happens to everyone and
go on to the next day. Don’t get down on yourself or feel guilty
or ashamed. Enjoy that dessert and remind yourself of the bigger
goal of being in the perfect bathing suit by summer. Have you
not worked on your graduate thesis for a week? Enjoy your time
off, remember what you’re working for, and work harder when
you start up again.
Expect
to reach a point when your plateau on a weight loss program,
get bored with the great American novel you are writing,
or get tired of depriving yourself of some wants to save for
that dream vacation. When you reach that point, accept it,
know that it happens to everyone and if you don’t allow discouragement
to set in, you can soon pick up where you left off.
Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t make your goals, set new
ones, and keep your eyes on the final prize, that one big goal
you have been working for and then enjoy your life.
