I’m sure for those of you who talked about changes for the New Year may have already broken some of those ‘resolutions’ you made in early January.  It’s okay.  You can always get yourself back on track.  I know that staying motivated is very challenging.  But there are a few key things you can do to get yourself in gear again.

1. Remember why you started.

Take a moment to remember the reason you even wanted to start.  For example if you’re a smoker and want to quit.  Remember the reasons behind the decision; getting healthy, saving money etc. Usually when you can make the reason you started your focus, getting motivated again is not as hard as you think.

2. Set clear and concise goals

Don’t just say, “I’m going to exercise”.  Instead say something like, “I’m going to start with 20 minutes 3 times a week.”  When you make your goals less vague it’s easier to measure if you’re actually reaching them.

3. Make your goals simple

If you simplify what you’re doing it won’t seem as daunting.  Don’t try to do so many things at the same time.  Take one at a time and you’ll find it so much easier to accomplish.

4. Break it down into small reachable goals.

If you are trying to save money for example, simply stating that you want to save $5000 won’t help.  Break it down to how much you will save or invest each week in order to reach the goal.  Each time you do it, it’s one step closer to reaching the goal.  It’s so much easier to stay motivated when you break it down.

5. Reward Yourself

When you reward yourself for each milestone you reach, it give you something to look forward to.  Incentive is something we see in the workplace too.  Getting bonuses, commissions and prizes are all ways of motivating staff to accomplish goals.  You could reward yourself with something new whenever you reach your goal.  Or perhaps a small treat like a lice of your favourite cake or pie.  Sometimes the little rewards are what give us joy and keep you going for the long haul.