Staying Motivated to Maintain a Healthy, Productive Lifestyle

Guys, I’m just going to come out and say it: motivation is bullshit. Through an entire lifestyle transformation, years of science classes, nursing school, and career milestones, all finding something motivational in the morning ever did for me was give me a kick in the ass to get out of bed. Don’t get me wrong, I love Eddie Pinero and the like, and I watch their videos every day on YouTube. And they can be very motivating. But that kick is short; it lasts about 5 minutes. I never did 10 hours of class, studying, cooked 3 meals, and made a stop at the gym because of that alone.

To put it lightly, this shit is challenging – especially if you’re just starting out. A meme, or video, might get you rolling. However, it is discipline that is going to carry the day. And discipline is something that very few people are innately born with. Discipline is something that has to be cultivated. Discipline is determination and willpower combined with a plan, and repeated until it is routine. With those things, and some helpful tips, you can stay on track and achieve your goals. I’m going to give you some strategies here that I developed to help me stay motivated and committed to a healthy lifestyle.

Set Realistic Goals

One of the most important things you can do is to set realistic goals for yourself. I had numerous setbacks during my journey, primarily from trying to do too much too quickly. It’s easy to overload yourself when you’re trying to move the mountain all at once. Nobody ever jumped, Superman-style, to the top of Everest. But your Everest is attainable if you just start taking some steps. Whether it’s losing a certain amount of weight, running a 5K, or simply making healthier food choices, setting achievable goals can help you stay motivated and focused. Start small and work your way up as you achieve each goal. Re-evaluate, and set the next milestone.

Put a Date on the Damn Calendar

In keeping with the above idea, give yourself a deadline. Mr. Pinero would tell you that the single biggest factor in meaningful change with his clients was a date, circled on a calendar. Hold yourself accountable, and track your progress. Keeping track of your progress can help you see how far you’ve come and keep you motivated to keep going. Keep a journal to track steps you took toward your goals every day, use apps to track your workouts, meals, and progress. Seeing the improvements you’ve made can help you stay motivated and committed. These things will keep some wind in your sails.

Exercise – and Find a Way to Keep it From Getting Boring

People tend to stick with an exercise routine for 2-6 weeks on average – that’s the statistic. The New Year’s Resolution crowd seen every January in the gym – only to be gone by March – is a prime example. Part of the problem is that doing the same thing over and over can get boring – so keep it from becoming tedious. Mix up your workouts every so often to keep things fresh and exciting. Try a new class at the gym, go for a bike ride, or take a yoga class. Variety is the spice of life, and it can also help you stay motivated.

Make Healthy Eating a Habit

Eating a healthy diet is important when it comes to maintaining a productive lifestyle – it’ll affect your exercise, your mood, your willpower, and your ability to stay on track. That said, no one will achieve a perfect diet overnight – or probably ever. The key is slow changes, and discipline. The number one factor that affects how much crap you eat is how much crap you put in your grocery basket. Incorporate more fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains into your diet, and limit processed and sugary foods. Making healthy eating a habit can help you maintain productivity and feel better overall.

Throw Perfect Out the Window

Here’s the thing about achieving anything significant and worthwhile: you’re going to come up short sometimes. You’re going to get your ass kicked – probably a lot. You’re going to approach that date on the calendar, and think (rightly, sometimes) that you haven’t done enough. You are sometimes going to fail.

Listen to me: That’s totally okay.

If you’re never happy with less than perfect, you’ll rarely be happy. But wait, he’s telling us that it’s okay to not try for perfection? NO. Try for it, yes – but realize that most successes are not perfect successes. It doesn’t make them unsuccessful – it just means that things didn’t go off flawlessly. Success isn’t hitting the bullseye every time. It’s putting yourself in a position – through preparation, practice, and consistency – that hitting the bullseye is a likely outcome. It’s being able to adapt when things go wrong. Success is sometimes just being able to accomplish something in less than ideal conditions. I don’t think Tiger Woods hit the fairway on a course twice in a row anytime in his entire career – he’s still got a stack of trophies and a massive bank account. He’s still a pro, and pros aren’t fragile. Pros can work in the rain.

Combine Your Strategies to Win

In conclusion, staying motivated, converting that to discipline, and knocking off those goals requires commitment and determination. Setting realistic goals, finding an exercise buddy, mixing up your workouts, rewarding yourself, tracking progress, and making healthy eating a habit are all strategies that can help you stay on track. Remember, it’s never too late to start living a healthier lifestyle, and every small step counts towards a happier, healthier, and more successful you.