Staying Motivated

AdStaying motivated takes good planning, realistic expectations, and a positive attitude. You need to create goals for yourself in order to be motivated so your life can have a sense of structure.

Know Your Goal

Start by writing down your major goals; what is one thing you really want to do? For instance: I want to lose weight. It is up to me to go on a diet and exercise to be healthier and look better. Goal ranges vary for different people: some goals take longer and require more work than others. It's OK to dream big because sometimes it makes a persons drive bigger. The determination to make that dream come true is greater. Some people accomplish more things when dreams are bigger.

Make It Specific

It's easy to plan for and master a specific goal, but be specific. Anyone can loose weight; however, it is up to you to decide how much weight you would like to loose? Determine the different size clothing you would you like to wear, determine the financial obligation difference- meaning you may have to sacrifice and buy the more expensive groceries or you may have to stay away from the candy aisle when you go to the store. This step by step evaluation process can help you make a plan to reach your goal.

Make It Realistic

People often forget about their goals because they are unreachable. For Example: you want to run a marathon. If you try to run the entire distance of 26.2 miles tomorrow without training, you're unlikely to succeed. It usually takes 4 months for someone to train their bodies to carry on for that distance! Part of staying motivated is being realistic about what you can achieve within the timeframe you've planned.

Write It Down

Put your specific goal in writing. Then write it down again, and again. Things are easier to remember when written down. Write your goal down every day to keep you focused and remind you how much you want it.

Break It Down

Making any change takes discipline. One way to make this easier is to break a big goal into small steps. If you wanted to lose weight, you would first break your goal into smaller goals (like losing 3 pounds the first 2 weeks and 2 pounds a week after that). Then set specific daily tasks, like eating five servings of fruit and veggies and getting 30 minutes of exercise a day. Put these on a calendar or planner so you can check them off.

Reward Yourself

Now that your goals are broken down they should be easier to reach. Reward yourself for every small goal completed as you get closer to your original goal and remember to keep a positive attitude. See yourself achieving your goal. It helps if you keep what you're trying to accomplish in mind. It builds self confidence.

Have a Support System

Having a supportive group of people around you is very important in order for you to achieve your goal. You need people to encourage you and help you reach your goal; it more difficult to do it on your own. Find someone else with a similar goal so you can support each other.

Don't Give Up!

Finding the motivation to stay focused isn't easy, but it is always possible. You can stay motivated by writing down your goals, sticking to your schedule, and reminding yourself of what led you to set your goal in the first place. Change is exciting and constant in the world- we'd all be very bored without it. Good luck in reaching your goals!

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