DRIVEN
WEEK FIVE
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. "
Aristotle
- Consistency or BUST -
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
Whether professionally or personally, our habits can come to define us. Good habits can lead us toward progress and success, while bad habits can cause us to fail. Habits are powerful, and can difficult to make or break, but if you can gain control over your habits -- both positive and negative -- you'd be surprised how much easier it is to reach your goals.
Of course, gaining control over our habits is easier said than done. Some people go their whole lives without considering the fact that they can construct their own habits, or never succeed in breaking the habits that drag them down. While there’s no shortcut to mastering your habits, it’s always going to take discipline and hard work, but there is one principle that can lead you to a greater success: the idea that habits are grounded in consistency.
Consistency creates momentum, increases willpower and amplifies skill levels with repetitive action. It's easier to stick to something when we see the fruits of our labor, but what do we do until then? Here are a few tips to help create and facilitate the habit of consistency.
1. Create a morning routine
The early bird got the worm because the early bird thought ahead. Don't cross your fingers and hope that fate will take care of your future. Plan ahead and prepare yourself for success. Create a morning routine that will help set the pace for your day. Set aside time every morning to make sure you're prepared to be successful. Do you have your meals planned/prepped? Are you workout clothes ready to go? Prepare yourself for success.
2. Write it down
It's like, "the blind following the blind." If you don't have a plan, you don't know where you're going. Set attainable goals that can be reached by changing daily habits and write them all down. Look at the big picture and then break it down into small ones. Be clear on your goal and how you will get there.
"I want to lose 15lbs. In order to do this, I will workout every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for 45 minutes @ 6pm, eat four balanced meals per day, and drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water every day."
3. Focus on positive Self-Talk
You are what you eat. You are who you hang with. You are what you think.
There is one common denominator that we all have in life - ourselves. Wherever we go, whatever we do, whoever we're with, we are ALWAYS with ourselves and what we say to ourselves can play an impactful role in our rate of consistency. Instead of focusing on past obstacles or failures, encourage yourself by thinking of positive outcomes and processes. You can't move forward if you're always looking backward.
4. Set your feelings aside
The greatest thing about feelings is that they're just feelings. Consistency isn't about a feeling, it's about staying focused and on track toward a better tomorrow. Even on days when you feel like skipping out, lift your head and push through. After all, the key to being a success is to continue being a success... and our feelings don't always fall in line with that path.
Let's Get Cookin'
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MEAL PLANNING
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