Easy ways to improve consistency

With any goal you have, I’m sure that you’re aware the key ingredient is consistently working towards that goal. However, especially with a goal that is particularly challenging, this can be much easier said than done. Below are four ways to maintain consistency in your habits:

1. Stick to a schedule

Being regular with what you do and having a routine is your best friend - the human brain responds to a regular schedule. Try and do the same thing at the same time everyday, as this will also help with your motivation to do the task. Maybe even set alarms so that you ensure you are sticking to as regular of a schedule as possible. Having a routine of what you do that stays the same will help too, as it will become second nature. For example, if your goal is to run a certain amount everyday, putting on your running clothes and trainers and leaving the house in that order and in the same way each day will help make it a routine and habit, and this in turn helps motivate you to do it.

1. Make realistic goals

Creating effective, simple and reachable goals is incredibly important in keeping yourself motivated - if the goal is too hard, it will seem unreachable and you may find yourself losing interest. I have written several blog posts about creating effective goals using SMART targets and goal hierarchies, which will be linked below.

1. Forgive mistakes

You are inevitably going to miss days, skip deadlines or make mistakes and this is normal. You are human, we all have bad days and will make mistakes or errors. The most important thing is to learn from them and not get discouraged or lose motivation. Learning to forgive yourself is vital to your journey as it will be short lived otherwise. Try and instead plan how you can make up for the missed deadline or lost time, and go from there. Be kind to yourself as whatever you are attempting is challenging and new to you!

1. Take care of yourself

Following on from the last point, taking care of your physical and mental health will have a huge impact on your motivation and therefore your consistency to complete goals. This includes everything like getting enough sleep, eating well, drinking enough water, exercising regularly but also things like making enough time to see loved ones, taking enough breaks between work and not putting too much pressure on yourself and forgiving yourself. It's important to prioritise your health, both physical and mental, before anything else. 

I hope these simple tips help you be more consistent in your goals, and it is really small things that make a huge difference. Of course, the most important thing is to make sure you are motivated enough to work towards your goals, and to remember not to be too self-critical. Progress is often slow, and you need to remember that!