Motivation
Motivation is a very unique thing.
I can teach you about motivation; you can read about it, you can learn everything there is about fitness, building muscle and burning fat but if you’re not internally motivated you’ll never reap the rewards of your newly acquired knowledge.
You need to remember that all good things take time, if you’ve been overweight for the last 5 years of your life you need to remember that it will take longer than 5 days for you to see noticeable results.
The reason people give up and quit on their workout regime, their business plan, their relationship is because they are not visually seeing the representation of the effort they are putting in, whether this is not a lack of additional muscle mass being gained from workouts, less income from your new business etc. is irrelevant.
Remember, if it came that easy EVERYONE would be doing it…
If you want to maintain your motivation you need a blueprint, a plan of attack.
Here are the 5 keys to keeping the fire alive, not only in your fitness endeavours, but in all aspects of your life.
Partner
Have a buddy that’s on the same path as you. Remain reliable and accountable to this partner, train with them each day, call them and discuss the things you need to get done today, talk to them first thing in the morning and last thing before bed. If you fail to deliver on what you discussed not you’re not only letting yourself down, but your partner as well… if you have a conscience you will not be in a hurry to let others down.
You can also exchange techniques, thoughts and ideas with your partner – feed off what does and doesn’t work.
Track Results
Keep a journal to track your progress on this endeavour you’re working on. If this is a body transformation you should be writing down your workouts including your exercises, weights, repetitions and rest time. Take photos of your physique weekly, right down your weight and body fat. When you feel your motivation dropping you can refer back to your journal to remind yourself of just how far you’ve really come.
Results are the best motivation.
Set a Date
You need to have a goal, something you’re aiming for. Do you want to be ripped for that summer holiday you’re going on in 3 months’ time? How about that high school reunion you’ve got 6 months from now? How about you participate in the Tough Mudder that will be in your town 4 months from now?
Pick a date, right it down. You’ll no longer be in a hurry to squander your training or work each day, as you are losing an opportunity to improve yourself (you need to see each day as a new opportunity).
Tell your family and friends the date and event you’re aiming for, if you don’t complete this goal or at least give it your 110% best effort you risk looking like a failure to those who matter most to you – if that doesn’t motivate you to succeed nothing will.
Change your Atmosphere
Sometimes in order to maintain interest we need to switch things up, to change our environment. For you this may mean change your workout routine, moving gyms, changing the time of day you train.
If you’re trying to lose weight and you’re finding it hard to motivate yourself to get through those 3 sessions of cardio per week why not invest in some new running shoes? You’ll look forward to going for a run once you’ve treated yourself to those, which in the big picture of things is such a small change – yet it is often enough to get that fire in your belly burning hotter than ever.
Ensure your Plan is Solid
Make sure you’ve researched what you’re about to do, when you get in your car to drive to work you have a clear view of exactly where you’re going… you don’t wear a blindfold and hope you make it there in one piece do you?
So why should achieving your goals be any different?
Research exactly what steps you need to take, talk to people who have achieved the success you are after before. Set small milestones; know exactly when and how each module of your larger end goal must be achieved.
Now go out there and do what you said you’re going to do!
What are your tips to stay motivated? What works best for you? Let me know in the comments below!