Staying motivated

[Green-Moo]

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

Green-Moo

[SageMother]

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.

[debrajean]

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

[Jewel]

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

[tater03]

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.

[trick-r-treat]

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.

[SageMother]

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.

[riskey58]

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.

[Calypso]

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.

[Green-Moo]

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.