You don't need to rely solely on motivation to make changes

Motivation is a powerful tool for change, but it isn’t the only way to implement successful habits. I have a consistent habit of running for exercise and I’ve fielded comments such as “I wish I was motivated enough to run everyday” and “I wish I loved exercise as much as you do”. While I mostly enjoy exercise, it isn’t always enjoyable. Many of us find joy in some aspect of our jobs or hobbies, but we are human and our motivation for these activities will wax and wane. This is normal! There is nothing wrong with you when you feel like you’d rather not do something that you either have to do or know you should do. 

In regards to my exercise habit, on days when I feel like skipping it, I rely heavily on habit strategies to get myself out the door and taking those first steps. I know that my mental and physical health benefit from the fresh air and movement so I purposely build in strategies that support me when internal motivation isn’t enough. This often consists of a combination of planning, habit stacking, accountability, and a myriad of external motivators. External motivation can sometimes be criticized, but it is a powerful tool. This will look different for everyone, but sometimes all I need is to meet up with some friends or treat myself to a special breakfast or coffee. With consistency, we form the habit and it becomes easier to keep it going on hard days.

If you feel a slump in motivation, try thinking about the last time you completed a project that you weren’t excited about. 

How did you feel when you were getting started? 

How did you break it up to make it more manageable? How did you make some aspect of the process enjoyable (or less miserable!)

How did you feel when it was done? What did you learn about yourself in this process?

We are constantly evolving and an original intention for creating a habit might be different now. When motivation is lacking, check back in with “why” doing this thing in the present moment is valuable. 

For more on finding your “why”, check out this post: Knowing your "why" is critical to making changes

For more ideas, inspiration and motivation follow Groundworkhealthcoaching on Instagram.