Motivation is the driving force behind our actions. It fuels us to complete our mundane, day-to-day tasks but also sparks our commitment to more challenging goals and ambitions. But how do we stay motivated? Techniques to help maintain motivation are centred around reinforcing why you are committed to your goal and lifestyle in the first place. Still, it is normal to feel shifts in your motivation and when this happens we can use self- discipline to keep consistent with our healthy habits.  Self-discipline is the practice of self-control and allows us to complete tasks even when we lack the motivation. Likewise, there are strategies to also help build your self-discipline. 

Sustaining motivation

Research has shown that simply writing down your goal significantly increases your likelihood of achieving it. Putting pen to paper helps you to clarify your thoughts, allowing you to structure a plan, which can make it feel more realistic. Documenting can help to give you a sense of accountability and ownership of what you want to achieve. Additionally, writing things down helps us to remember. When the goal can be seen and reviewed, we are more likely to remember it and stay focussed on achieving it. 

Tracking your progress is another great way to maintain your motivation. Seeing improvement reinforces the belief that your hard work and sacrifices are paying off. Often with long-term goals it is hard to see the improvement day to day as the building blocks are small. However, documenting your progress acts as a reminder of how far you’ve come, helping you to stay motivated to keep going. This could take the form of a journal, logbook, or app. 

Whether it is a time-restricted goal or a healthy behaviour you would like to maintain, make sure it is authentic to you and falls in line with your personal beliefs, values and aspirations. Seeing others happily succeeding at their own challenges can make you want to take on someone else’s goal. Yet, without personal motivation, it will be very difficult to achieve. 

Maintaining discipline

Routine is a discipline’s best friend. Our bodies are designed to be in a routine and the more we repeat a behaviour, the easier it becomes. When motivation is high, use this time to cement a routine. Whether that’s going to bed early, writing a journal or exercising regularly. Try and keep habits at a similar time each day to make the most of our 24 hour circadian rhythm. That way, even when the brain is resistant, the body has the muscle memory to get up and do it anyway. It is also important to remember that breaking a routine will make it harder the next day and even harder the day after. 

Discipline is easier when you have a plan to follow. Creating a plan allows you to map out your starting position and draw a quick and safe route to your goal at the finish line. Alternatively, deciding a direction on any given day often results in a slower and more arduous journey to the finish line. Using a plan gives you focus, and means that decisions are made ahead of time, making it harder to be swayed off course. 

Find yourself a community that is great at keeping you accountable. This could be family, friends or co-workers, or a club or activity group. Hard things are much easier when done with other people, especially in a friendly and supportive environment. When you are lacking in motivation, this allows you to be pulled forward by other people and keeps you focussed on your goal. It is important that your experience is positive as you are much more likely to be consistent if you can find enjoyment in attaining your goals. 

So there you have it – your guide to staying motivated and disciplined. I hope it helps you to crush those goals and build healthy and fulfilling habits.