Simple Ways to Stay Motivated When You Want to Give Up

Has the excitement of your New Year’s Resolutions begun to fizzle out? Did you start out with a bang, to find that your passion and motivation has come to a screeching halt? Are you wondering why you even bothered to set resolutions again this year?

It’s not easy to stay motivated, particularly when your stress levels elevate. If you have a terrible day and reach for a pint of ice cream, it can leave you feeling guilty, frustrated and doubting your ability to achieve your goals.

However, remember, to ditch the “all or nothing attitude”. So, you decided to eat ice cream after a hard day. Acknowledge that and move on, without giving up.

When you start losing motivation, here are tried and true ways to stay the course when the going gets tough:

1. Remember your why

Why did you start your healthy lifestyle? Was it because your doctor warned you about your health? Was it because you were tired of being tired? Did you want to have the energy to keep up with your kids? Whatever the reason, get back to the “why” that motivated you in the first place.

2. Give yourself grace

If you’re ready to give up because you gobbled down a bag of Doritos after a horrid day at work or with the kids, stop and give yourself grace! Take a minute to acknowledge all the positive things you did today instead of focusing on the negatives. It’s normal to slip-up – and it’s all part of your journey. Put it behind you and remember that the next time you eat, you have a choice to nourish your body and treat yourself with self-compassion.

3. Focus on consistency

It’s your consistent actions that will lead to your results. Don’t fall into the all or nothing attitude when it comes to your health goals. Focus on doing consistent actions each day. When I start to feel overwhelmed, I step back and remind myself of the mantra I learned in my reiki training: “Just for today.” If you feel like you can’t do something because it’s too hard or overwhelming, focus on doing it just for today. Or, if that seems too overwhelming, think through an even smaller period – ‘Just for this morning, I can avoid sugar in my coffee’. When you think in this way, it makes everything so much more manageable.

4. Break it down

Sometimes, focusing on your long-term goal can feel impossible. If you’re your goal is to lose 50 pounds, it can feel impossible, especially when the scale is slow to budge in your favor. Instead of focusing on that end goal, break it down into mini goals instead. This week, I will lose 2 pounds, and then figure out a plan to achieve it. Be reasonable about your mini goals and make them tangible and measurable. Each time you achieve a mini goal, take time to celebrate your success. It’s so much easier to keep moving forward when you see positive results.

5. Get support

Let’s face it, sometimes willpower alone doesn’t cut it. We feel like we’re all alone in our pursuit. However, if you look around and start talking to other people, you may find that other people are having the same struggles. Finding a like-minded community can help keep you motivated and accountable. Whether you need a workout buddy or someone that loves to share healthy recipes, joining a group with the similar goals can provide a great support system to keep going. If you are looking for healthy recipes, please join my free Simple Healthy Recipes group to connect with likeminded women.

Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Nothing worth having comes easy.” Giving up on your goals and quitting would be the easy option. However, you are strong, and you can do hard things. Keep moving forward and when you look back, you’ll see that you’ve come so much further than you ever imagined. And, don’t be afraid to ask for help to achieve your goals!

NEED A JUMPSTART?

If you need a jumpstart to get back focus on your healthy habits, join us for the 3-Day Reset Program. Get support from a health coach and a likeminded community of health and wellness warriors who are ready to restart their healthy habits. It’s so easy to fall back into your old ways once February rolls around with the long, dark days and cold nights. There is a better way…..

Check out the Effortless 3-Day Reset here.