January and Motivation

We see it everywhere - it's January, and clearly this is a time for new habits, routines, and a "New You". It's not uncommon for us to start off week 1 with great motivation - we get to the gym, eat like vegans and feel great - for about 2 days - and then the "motivation" starts to wash away and we find ourselves back to the same old habits we always had.

I've often been asked, "How do you keep yourself motivated to _________ (workout regularly, eat better, get to bed earlier etc)?" The truth is, motivation is temporary. For everyone. Structures and systems are the answer. Small bit by small bit, we build structures and systems into our days, that help us climb the ladder to the behaviors we know will help us achieve what we want to achieve.

So, let's suppose your 2020 goal is to "eat healthier". What is one small step up the ladder you could do each day that helps you move towards that healthier eating goal? Think of something you can actively "do" rather than "stop doing". Maybe you know that you need to include more fruits and vegetables in your diet. So, a small habit that you could build into your day is to end your lunch with a small piece of fruit. This becomes a structure. “I eat lunch then I finish with a good handful of cherry tomatoes/blueberries etc”. Going an extra step further - you could also build a support system into your practice so that every Sunday afternoon, you wash up the fruit for the week ahead, so that it is ready to go, no effort need to be taken, just simply grab a handful and eat. Systems and structures are what will help you develop positive changes in your lifestyle. Motivation will come and go, but systems and structures are much more permanent. What systems and structures will you develop in 2020?