Strategies for Motivation

The New Year has come and gone.  Many of us started 2013 with great motivation and determination to reach fitness resolutions or goals that we set out to accomplish.  Now that March is here some of us, myself included, might be struggling with the same vigor that we started the year off with.   

Just a little reminder:    

Don't forget your goals!  Why did you set a goal in the first place?  Chances are that you wanted to feel better about yourself, and that you wanted to challenge yourself to be more and do more.

Do you have a goal to:

• get in the gym 4-5x a week?
• try a new sport?
• increase your back squat weight?
• participate in a triathlon or marathon?
• finally get a pull-up?
• improve your nutrition?

Life is all about decision making.  Just like deciding what clothes you want to wear each day, you must make the conscious decision to stay motivated.

Ultimately, motivation is up to you.  Although our intentions may be good, sometimes we need a little direction to help us on our quest to reach goals.  Below are some long-term strategies that may assist you in your journey.      

1. Remember your dream  Revisit your dreams and goals often.  Our accomplishments are spurred on by our passions.  Spend time thinking about why you want what you want.  When we connect our dreams to our heart and soul, great things can occur.
2. Think positively How do you think?  Are you a positive or negative thinker?  Do you spend time thinking about what you can't do or what can do?  Are you hung up on difficulties or constantly searching for solutions?  Changing your thoughts to positive thoughts can change the outcome.
3. Find motivated peers  Spend your time with people that are like minded and want to see you succeed.  An effective support system is vital to motivation.  Find people that push you to be better and inspire you to reach higher.  Conversely, separate yourself from those who reinforce bad habits and lack focus and/or ambition.
4. Put yourself first  Take care of your needs.  Make sure you eat, hydrate, and get plenty of R&R when needed.  We are most productive when we are not distracted by basic needs.
5. Vary your training  Don't get stuck in a rigid training schedule or routine.  Change it up.  Don't be afraid to break up the monotony and have a little fun.  Without play, there would be just work...and that's no fun!
6. Experience success  When learning new skills or setting challenging goals, go step-by-step.  Start with a simple skill, master it, and then move on.  Let yourself know what it feels like to succeed.  Success breeds success.  Maintain motivation by tracking PRs and continue to set out to beat them.

Hopefully the strategies provided can help you to maintain motivation toward your goals. When it comes to motivation and drive, some days are better than others.  Nothing is guaranteed, but when we understand how to create and sustain motivation for ourselves our dreams are not as far off as they seem.  If you can conceive it, you can achieve it, but not without continuous motivation from within.  As the famous motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar once stated, "people often say that motivation doesn't last.  Well, neither does bathing- that's why I recommend it daily."  Find a way to keep revving up your motivation, because it's the key to success.