How to stay motivated all year long

It’s a new year, and we all have these big and exciting goals to reach! But…eventually… the excitement wears off; reality hits and those goals seem so far away. This is completely normal, but you don’t have to stay stuck in that slump! We’re going to share our best expert (not really expert) advice on how to stay motivated all year long.

How can I get motivated?

The easiest step of all, right? But it’s often overlooked. Setting goals is one thing, but tracking those goals is another thing entirely. There are a few things that you can keep in mind when getting motivated for the year.

Firstly, think about one goal that you have for this year. Why do you want to achieve it? What will you need to achieve it? How long should it take for you to achieve it? Thinking this way helps you break down your big goal into smaller, manageable tasks and allows you to put a timeline in place to help you achieve your goal.

How can I stay on track with all my goals?

Now many people might disagree with this, but we genuinely live by this rule: WRITE IT DOWN! Whether it’s in a physical diary or a digital planner, just write it down. Set reminders and deadlines for yourself as you would for anything else. Plus, how satisfying is it to tick off things on a to-do list? It’s the best.

Keep in mind that, while you’re scheduling all your tasks and activities, you need to also make time for yourself. Whether that means making time for going on a run, watching tv, napping, having brunch with a friend or just getting some fresh air, schedule it in. Self-care must be a top priority no matter what goals you’re trying to achieve.

We don’t recommend living by a to-do list, but having one close by does make life a tiny bit easier.

How can I stay motivated?

Here are some general tips on staying motivated all year long:

• Review your progress regularly. This is a great motivator in itself and it helps improve self-esteem.
• Tackle one goal at a time. This will help avoid feelings of anxiety and stress.
• Keep the momentum up. According to Health Direct, “It takes most people about 2 months to develop a new habit, but for some people, it can take much longer.”
• Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s okay to have unproductive days (or weeks). It’s okay to take a step back and focus on what you enjoy. If you’re not filling yourself up, you’re all going to be moving two steps forward, and one step back.
• Use exercise to improve your mental health. It doesn’t have to be a heavy workout! Just get your body moving. This one is our least favourite, but it is important.
• Change your scenery. A change of scenery is always good to get new ideas flowing.

What do I do if I lose motivation?

Take a step back. Review your timelines and make sure that they are realistic. This is incredibly important because it goes hand in hand with tracking your progress. With this, if you notice that you could use help, ask. There is nothing wrong with asking for help.

Remind yourself of why you started in the first place. If it’s that important to you, then it will be worth it to push through the hard days. Remember that there is nothing wrong with taking a break, or even starting again. You are a human being, not a human doing.

And that, fellow reader, is how you stay motivated all year long! Achieving goals is not going to be easy, but it will be worth it in the end. Come back to this blog for a quick refresher on those days when you feel low!