{How to stay motivated into February}
Can you believe it’s February!
Wasn’t Christmas just here?!
Are we already a month into the New Year and you’ve already ditched your New Year’s resolutions?
In fact, has getting up at 5am, especially in Canada where the daylight only lasts 8 hours has proven short lived? Maybe you got sick of eating salads for lunch and counting how many almonds you’ve already consumed. Has your new diet got you feeling blue?
New Year’s resolutions can be brutal at the best of times and even down right set up for failure even long before committing to them.
Besides, I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions for one simple reason:
They are always made for the wrong reasons.
How many times have you simply told yourself that this would be the year you’d create a new you?
Ever since I was 12 I have created unrealistic goals or aspirations for what the new year would look like. I can’t quite recall what I would have pegged as a New Years resolution when I was 12 but I shudder to think it was something along the lines of stopping my growth hormones from spiraling out of control or maybe even marrying my crush, Jonathan Brandis.
Oh, how I loved to watch “Ladybugs” on repeat all summer long! It was truly a magnificent movie with the introduction of one of the first ever modern transgender roles. You should really watch it!!
I digress…
Creating realistic goals for yourself and also making sure they align with your life in general will set you up for success, not failure.
Most importantly, set aside the notion that you have to create resolutions around New Year’s only.
We are always growing and changing and the best way to make sure our goals re-align with us, is to always check in.
As a result, here’s a list of the best tips on actually keeping yourself motivated even in February, long after we’ve made our resolutions and even long after the euphoria of New Year’s has passed!
Tips to stay motivated in February
1. Check in
First, what goals did you set up on December 31st? Did it relate to your job? Your love life? Your travel plans? Your desire to read every book on your bucket list?
Consequently, whatever goal or resolution you set up, what emotion was it based on?
- Did you want to quit your job because you felt unfulfilled?
- Did you seek out Tinder because you were lonely? (I know nothing of Tinder as I’ve never used it but I’ve heard stories…to each their own!)
- Did you book a trip to Fiji because you felt like you were missing out on life? If you did, did you get a good deal? Hook me up if you did!
- Do you even have a bucket list of books or is that just me?
Take a minute and actually check in on your resolutions. Why did you make them? Are they genuine to what it is you want to change or create in your life? Did they come from a place of intention or just a brief moment of emotion?
Furthermore, if the answer is no, time to take a step back.
2. Reflect
Second, what motivates you? What drives you?
Don’t set goals or resolutions on other people’s time or desires. What do you truly want to gain? Or loose for that matter?
Equally important is to take the time and truly reflect on what caused you to make your resolution. If it does not bring you joy or causes distress for you and your loved ones, maybe it’s time to rethink it. Maybe it’s even time to throw it in the trash and start fresh!
Trust the process. Don’t panic! Listen to your gut. Remember why you started in the first place.
3. Prioritize
Once you’ve figured out what it is you are trying to achieve make it a priority.
This is the most important step to staying motivated. If you do not want it bad enough, you will create excuses to avoid it.
If it is important enough for you, you will prioritize it in your schedule.
Speaking from experience, setting things into my calendar makes me more visually aware of my days and what it is I need to do to achieve my end goal. If it’s not in there, it’s sure to be forgotten and procrastinated until it drifts from memory all together.
Prioritizing my goals also make me accountable. Not just to myself but also to that little voice in my head that says “boom, bitches! I did it!” This voice is different from the voice I talked about in “My Fat Journey” which relates to the devil voice. I like this voice better.
4. Reward yourself
Go ahead. What are you waiting for? You’ve earned it!
Don’t we all love to be rewarded for our efforts? Just show yourself a little love and appreciation. Self talk and self encouragement goes a long way.
Book yourself a spa day. Book yourself a day off to binge Netflix and not feel guilty about it. Take a weekend and finally get to indulge in what brings you joy.
Buy yourself those nice pair of spandex you’ve always wanted now that your ass can finally fit in them!
Don’t feel guilty for going out there and kicking ass and doing what you set out to do. Take credit for going the distance and keeping yourself motivated, even into February!
5. Lather, rinse and repeat
Lastly, if you find something isn’t working, lather, rinse and repeat.
Lather and get back on the horse. Not tomorrow, not after that party you promised you were gonna attend because it will be an open dessert bar. Now. Do it now!
Rinse off the bad self doubt because you binged on too many cookies on your cheat day.
Repeat the steps and check in, reflect, prioritize and then lather, rinse and repeat as necessary!
In the end, making the decision to start can be a daunting task but always remember why you wanted to start in the first place. If it’s important to you, you will make time.
Having experienced my fair share of failures after New Year’s resolutions I have come to realize that in the end it really doesn’t matter when you start, just as long as you take the first step to doing the doing. Not just sitting back and daydreaming about the outcome, but physically make it a priority and jump in with both feet.
It’s scary as hell but when that little voices in your head says “boom bitches! I did it!” that is the most rewarding voice of all!
meraki [may-rah-kee] (adjective) word used to describe doing something with soul, creativity, or love — when you put “something of yourself” into what you’re doing, whatever it may be
