Building Self-Motivation
Even the most motivated of us can feel unmotivated at times. In fact, sometimes we get into such a slump that even thinking about making positive changes seems too difficult.But it’s not hopeless. With some small steps, you can get started down the road to positive change.
Make a Plan
From personal experience, whenever I’ve been in a slump, it’s often because I have too much going on in my life where it takes up much of my energy and motivation. In fact,many of us share the same thing in common – we try to take on too much and try to accomplish too many goals at once and often end up feeling overwhelmed. So, how can you change this? For starters, it’s best to focus on one goal at a time and write your plan on a piece of paper.Success does not come easy without any proper plan. Failing to plan is actually planning to fail. Having your plan clearly written gives you more psychological inner drive to work toward achieving your goals.
Post Your Goal
Print out your goal in big words. Make your goal just a few words long – for example: “Exercise 15 minutes daily”, and post it up on your wall or refrigerator. Post it at home, work, or put it on your computer desktop. It helps to have reminders about your goal to keep your focus and keep your excitement going.
Commit Publicly
When I wanted to run my first 5K, I started writing a blog simply dedicated to my journey trying to achieve my goal. I went even further to send the link to every single one of my family and friends. Now I really couldn’t back down, and even though my motivation came and went, I stuck with it and completed it. Now, you don’t have to commit to your goal in your daily newspaper, but you can do it with friends and family and co-workers, and you can do it on your blog or on your social media page if you have one. Hold yourself accountable and commit to giving progress updates to everyone every week or so.
Find Inspiration& Support
Inspiration can come from others who have achieved what I want you achieve, or who are currently doing it. Perhaps that may come from reading blogs, books, or magazines. One of the best ways to find inspiration is by attending one of our support groups –You can find the most current schedule on our website at www.tristatebariatrics.org.
Reward Yourself
Setting up a reward system is a great way to show appreciation to yourself for achieving your goals. For example, my reward for completing a 5K was a new pair of running sneakers. Keep in mind that a reward is a temporary method to motivate yourself and is individualized.
Whatever you do, don’t give up. Stay with it for the long term, ride out the ups and downs and you’ll get there.
Source: American Council on Exercise& IDEA
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