5 Ways to Stay Motivated & Achieve Your Goals

March 10, 2017

It’s Friday, and it’s March. The last day of the work week and 3 months since you started your New Years Resolutions. How you doin? If you’re still on the go full speed working towards your goals, kudos! You are an inspiration, and we applaud you. If you’re struggling to keep working toward your goals, considering quitting, or already have quit… well, I’m proud of you too! It takes a lot of faith in yourself to set a goal. Getting down on yourself is not the answer and not the solution, because you’re still the same person you were when you set the goals. Many times, we set goals to change, and many things in our live’s can change. But that part of you that was bold enough to set a goal, declare a dream, and take some steps to go for it is strong, and brave and so inspiring. That part of you is still inside you, and capable of achieving whatever you out your mind to.

Ok, so if we’re so awesome for setting goals, then why do so many of us struggle and quit? There are many reasons why. But the solutions can be the same for everyone. Here are 5 ways to stay motivated and achieve your goals.

1. Remember why you started, and who you were when you started

You set your goals for a reason. Whether it was to lose weight, get healthier, leave a bad relationship, get a new job, or to travel more… whatever dream you had, big or small. I challenge you to stop whatever you are, close your eyes, and go back to that moment when you promised yourself you would. What’s changed? Did you lose faith, or just forget? Usually, the reason is still there. But there’s a little part of yourself that was full of faith that got lost a little bit. Take a moment, and get back to the core of it. Sometimes, achieving your goals and staying motivated can be as simple as remembering why you started, and who you were when you did.

2. Envision yourself there

The power of your mind should not be understated. You’ve heard it said a thousand times: “if you can dream it, you can achieve it”. It’s true! Know that you can imagine a better life for yourself, and you can achieve it. This world is full of possibilities. Remind yourself it can be done and meditate on this. Imagine the little details in your mind, like what you will wear when you arrive at that dream destination, or how that dress will fit when you lose that unneeded weight. Envision yourself already there, and this will motivate you to keep going and achieve all the goals you have set.

3. Surround yourself with positivity & cruise right past the negativity

I’ll bet that there are a million doubts swirling about in your head as to why you won’t or can’t achieve your goal. Big or small to the world’s perspective, it’s a big deal to you. The last thing you need is someone telling you that you can’t or that you won’t or that you shouldn’t. But on the same token, I promise you they will come up. If you can keep going on and keep believing when everyone around you has discouraging things to say, then you will see yourself stronger than any of them because they didn’t get you down. But honestly, don’t put yourself in those positions all the time. Find a friend whose dreams are just as big as yours, and work towards them together. Find a coach to keep you motivated, and allow them to pick up your slack when you’re feeling down.

4. Find out what motivates you, and stay close to that

Is it a certain song? It is a dream board full of photos? Is it a certain person or promise? Is it an anger or a hope? Is it another person? Many times, we stumble upon something that motivated us whether it’s an inspiring song or motivating blog, a photo we want our lives to look like or a person we admire… and then, we forget. Don’t allow yourself to forget! Find that song, that photo, that promise, that thought, that person… and keep it close to you. Whether you make the song the alarm clock waking you up in the morning or the photo that background on your screen, keep it on the forefront of your mind. So often, its not that we lost motivation entirely, it’s just that we forgot about it. Staying close to what motivates you is an important way to stay motivated and achieve your goals.

5. Just keep going

Usually, our goals start with some super-inspired, ultra-motivated dream in our mind. It looks beautiful, and fun and we want it! Remembering that inspiring spark can help you stay motivated and achieve your goals, but your dreams won’t come true unless you work for them. If you keep that dream board on your wall, but never take the first step out the door to run or you spend the money you were supposed to save for your dream trip, or you compromise whatever it is that’s going to actually get you there, then you will be discouraged. You have to just start, and just keep going. Stand up, lace up, and run out the door until you’re too tired and have to stop. Do not touch your savings, eat rice and beans for a month if you have to save the money. Whatever it is, no one is going to do it for you. You have to care, and you have to put in the work to stay achieve your goals. Working even when you don’t feel like it is going to be extremely motivating.