3 motivation mistakes to avoid
Motivation is important to achieve any goal you set out to do. Whether it is a fitness goal, personal development goal, or a learning goal without motivation you will likely not achieve your intended outcome. Many people start out with high motivation levels but find themselves struggling shortly after beginning. Chances are they have committed one or more of these motivation mistakes. After reading this article you’ll know what motivation mistakes to avoid so that you can be sure you achieve your goals.
The first mistake is not making your target compelling enough. A fitness goal of “go to the gym three times a week” seems clear enough but without making sure your workouts are interesting and engaging you’ll find it hard to go consistently. Personal development and learning goals are the same. Merely showing up isn’t enough. You have to make sure you are engaged and inspired when you are there. In order to do this spend some time really envisioning the outcome of your desired goal. What EXACTLY do you want to achieve and how is achieving this thing going to improve your life? When you have these details in mind, it makes it easy to associate what seems like a monotonous activity, such as running on a treadmill or studying Spanish vocabulary, with the pleasure of achieving your goal.
The second mistake is not having a plan. This is true for any type of goal, fitness, personal development, learning or otherwise. In order to keep your motivation high you have to feel like you are making progress every day. Seeing small results begin to add up to big results is highly energizing and makes it easy to stay motivated. So spend a few minutes and map out the steps it will take to achieve your goal. Jot down some milestones and make a plan to celebrate when you achieve them. You’ll find your motivation will gain momentum as you get closer and closer to your goal.
The third motivation mistake you want to avoid is going it alone. Your fitness goal, personal development goal, or learning goal may be all yours but that doesn’t mean you can’t enlist some support. Those who have someone to keep them accountable are many times more likely to achieve the goals they set for themselves. So hiring a coach, a mentor, a tutor or involving a friend, are great ways to have some one else fuel your motivation. You will have a cheerleader that can pick you up when you are not feeling your best and remind you of your successes. At the very least share your goals with someone who has your best interest in mind and ask them to check in on you from time to time. Just knowing that someone else is paying attention to our success or failure can keep us motivated.
Now that you know how to avoid some of the most common motivation mistakes, get started. Don’t wait. Quick action is another key to success.
Once you get moving you may find it is easier than you think to achieve your desired goal. Motivating yourself is easy when you understand how it works. Good luck.
