Lacking Motivation

You’ve been going hard for 5 weeks until one day, your cat becomes bed-ridden.

Your best plans for achieving peak fitness have come to a halt.

Sure enough, Felix eventually recovers and soon falls back into his routine.

But for you, things aren’t so simple.

The momentum you relied on to get through the previous weeks have evaporated into browsing twitter before work.

You begin to ask, “How do I capture my past glory?”

Here are a few strategies to consider:

Get up earlier and do it first thing

 

Productivity has always been highest when I’ve been able to get out of bed by dawn. Whether it’s cognitive or physical, there’s a magnitude of difference in your output.

Consider meditation

I mean this in the most Machiavellian sense. Studies (and anecdotal experience) have shown that it improves executive control by strengthening your prefrontal cortex.

Take it piecemeal 

You can take advantage of your need to finish tasks by doing a couple of exercises in your routine first thing in the morning. That way you’ll have the inkling to either finish right then and there or feel the urge to do so throughout the day.

Try a new activity

Joining a sports club can be a great way to have accountability. The social risk of letting your teammates down is usually enough for you to stick it out. Team activities can also be a bit of a keystone habit.  Once the competitive juices start flowing, you may find yourself sneaking in additional training prior to the weekly game.

Conclusion

When you lose macro-momentum, think micro. Instead of trying to recoup top form, go small and take day-to-day progress much more seriously.