Staying motivated
 

How do you stay motivated? i'm very good at making resolutions, but also very good at letting them lapse!

Green-Moo

The best way to stay motivated is to go with your natural rythym. You aren't going to perform the same way everyday because you are not a machine. Set small, easily attainable goals.

Exactly right sagemother. Setting small goals is easier to accomplish and succeed at. This gives us the encouragement we need to keep at it.

Good idea - it is better to make small adjustments to your schedule and smaller goals than to jump into something unattainable.

Those are great suggestions. I tend to also start good on resolutions and then tend to break them. I have since just given up on even making any.

When you decide to do something, you just have to really mean it, or it won't work. Just like I always said that I wanted to quit smoking and then would start right back up again. Well, the day that I really meant it, I knew it. It was just different. I finally REALLY wanted to quit. And so I did, end of story. That was 8 years ago. I had smoked for 25 years. Just be honest with yourself - it will happen when you are really ready.

Something else to remember to do:

When you make resolutions, include some pleasure items. If you vow to exercies then balance with a vow to redecorate or go to a spa once a month.

Balance your pain with pleasure.

Staying motivated
 

I have a hard time starting diets and other things and then I lose all motivation. I think it is important to set a goal for yourself. That way you have something to work towards.

I hate, hate, hate and absolutely loathe exercise, so it is very hard for me to get motivated and stay motivated to do it. It helps if I reward myself frequently with things I enjoy doing, like going to the bookstore or taking in a new release movie with friends. It also helps if I have a specific goal in mind, like wanting to be able to take walks with my family when I visit them or wanting to be in good shape for an upcoming vacation.

Calypso, I'm with you when it comes to hating exercise. But it's only exercise for it's own sake that I hate! I don't think of things like walking the dogs or gardening as being exercise, so I manage to do them without getting that mental block thing going on which is so demotivating.