It is so easy to tell yourself that you are going to accomplish something new, but what happens when this task takes longer than you had allowed for? Your motivation starts to disappear and quite often you give up on the idea altogether.
I must confess, this has happened to me on more than one occasion. It definitely can be hard to stay focused on certain things. Weight loss is a fine example of this. I have been on the weight loss journey so many times in my life. You know how it goes, your enthusiasm is so high for the first week or two. As you make lifestyle changes the pounds drop off quickly and you are feeling great about your efforts.
A few weeks into your diet you plateau and don’t lose any weight. You start to eat a little more or stop exercising as much and then before you know it you have abandoned your goal and have gone back to your old habits.
There are several reasons for this. First, you may not have recognized that plateauing is a perfectly normal occurrence when it comes to losing weight. Secondly, did you use not losing any weight as an excuse to have that extra treat or to miss a workout? Your mind can do wonderful things and is capable of coming up with hundreds of reasons to not do something.
The same thing can happen when you’re trying to go after your dreams of entrepreneurship. Owning a business is challenging, to say the least. Some days and months are better than others.
Over the past 8 years of operating my coaching business there have been many times, I felt like throwing in the towel. When this feeling hits me I have been known to just sit out and go into paralyzed mode. Sometimes it takes weeks to regain my momentum and drive.
Staying motivated and focused requires consistent efforts and work. Here are a few things you can try to stay the course:
- Set smaller goals
- Keep a success journal
- Share your goals with someone else (accountability partner)
- Join a group of people with the same goals
- Hire a coach or mentor
By creating smaller goals you won’t feel as overwhelmed when your results start to dwindle or slow down. If you break this down further into weekly targets you can easily stay focused longer. It isn’t as hard to do something new from a Monday to Friday as it is to think about doing it for months at a time.
Next, you really need to be honest with yourself. Look at your success journal and reflect on all your accomplishments – congratulate yourself. Focus on what you have done and not what you have to do still!
Maintaining a positive mindset can definitely help you stay focused on your goals.
Shift Your Mindset!
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