Within the battle of motivation vs. consistency, which one wins? Whereas each might be key elements of your well being and health journey, we at Lindywell consider one is healthier at serving to you construct lifelong habits than the opposite.
The distinction between these two is probably not so apparent on the floor, so let’s break down the nuances between motivation vs. consistency. Plus I will share why one in every of them is extra essential for constructing lifelong habits than the opposite.
What Is Motivation?
We have all heard the time period motivation, however what does it actually imply? Properly, Frontiers in Psychology defines motivation as a need or need to do one thing pushed by a way of intrinsic (inside) satisfaction or the hope of an extrinsic (exterior) reward.
While you really feel motivated, dopamine is launched into your mind. This then will get you to go do the exercise, end the challenge, or full no matter process is in entrance of you. Take into account motivation the spark that lights your hearth paired with the passion to take motion.
Motivation to eliminate nagging neck and again ache is what obtained me to take my first Pilates class and that second of motivation modified my life. Nevertheless, it isn’t what’s stored me exhibiting up on my mat every single day (nicely, most days) for greater than a decade. That was the results of consistency.
What Is Consistency?
If motivation is the preliminary spark, it is the dedication to consistency (whether or not you are feeling motivated or not) is what sustains that long-term momentum. Consistency is required to construct sustainable habits so that you do this factor (IE figuring out, consuming nutritious meals, taking a each day stroll) no matter whether or not you are “within the temper” or not.
Consistency requires focus, stamina, and perseverance. You need to be prepared to beat the resistance till the motion turns into as computerized as brushing your tooth. Finally, it turns into part of your new id.
This consistency is vital as a result of it takes time to show one thing right into a lifelong behavior. Whereas it differs for everybody, on common, a brand new behavior will kind after 6-8 weeks of constant adherence. You is probably not motivated for all six of these weeks, however for those who’re prepared to point out up anyway. That dedication to consistency will get you to the end line.
Motivation vs. Consistency: Which Is Extra Vital?
While you’re in that zone of excessive motivation, you would possibly really feel unstoppable. You are energized, bold, and prepared for what’s forward. That is as a result of motivation has been discovered to reinforce ideation, efficiency, innovation, and self-efficacy for a time period. The important thing phrase: for a time period.
That is fantastic, and we are able to all admire second of motivation, cannot we? It is when the pantry will get reorganized or we lastly placed on these new climbing boots and hit the path! As euphoric (and useful) as this state might be within the second, motivation hinges in your emotional state—and that fluctuates.
Motivation shouldn’t be regular or dependable sufficient by itself to create a everlasting behavior. That is the place consistency is available in.
The Energy of Consistency
For instance you wish to flip each day motion right into a behavior as computerized as brushing your tooth. One thing you do as a part of your day—you do not even query it more often than not. Your motivation to start out is perhaps to coach for a race that you will run with a pal. This will ignite your need to start out figuring out at first, however what if…
- One thing sudden throws your coaching schedule off?
- You end the race however your motivation for each day motion drops to zero?
- You are not operating as quick as you would like, so that you begin feeling much less excited to do it.
A dedication to consistency retains you exhibiting up in these bouts of low motivation as a result of it isn’t a brief feeling—it is a selection you make, a dedication you retain.
Earlier than we hold going, nevertheless, I wish to make one thing clear. I do not need you to confuse consistency with forcing or getting it “good.” Forcing or striving for “perfection” in a exercise or with every other motion can create resentment and even result in damage or giving up altogether.
Consistency is about taking some motion, any motion, in direction of what you need. Within the instance of coaching for a race, consistency means you are taking time to raise weights or stretch for quarter-hour if you do not have the power for a complete coaching run. It is exhibiting up for your self time and again, in no matter manner is supportive that day.
For me, this implies selecting a exercise that matches my power degree and wishes for the day. Typically that is a difficult, 30-minute routine. On different days it is simply 10 minutes of stretching. It would not matter what the motion is, however that I am taking the time for my thoughts and physique every day.
3 Methods to Harness Consistency
Consistency is tough for all of us. I struggled for years to stay with a constant exercise routine regardless that I at all times had the very best of intentions. The excellent news is, all it takes is just a few small modifications to harness the facility of consistency to construct lifelong habits that help you thru all seasons.
Listed here are just a few of these methods that will help you hold exhibiting up, even when motivation wanes.
1. Start with small, incremental actions.
As you construct a brand new behavior, it is tempting to purpose as excessive as potential, however this will backfire. While you’re over-ambitious and tackle an excessive amount of, burnout comes knocking. Earlier than you recognize it, the motivation has fizzled out and you are not taking any motion in any respect.
Scale the behavior all the way down to the only micro-actions you’ll be able to consider. For instance, if you wish to follow mindfulness each day, begin by reminding your self to take three gradual, intentional breaths no less than as soon as every day.
This is the reason lots of our exercises for Lindywell are 15-20 minutes. We wish to make it straightforward to make time to point out up in your mat. You do not want 60 minutes to provide your physique the motion and nourishment it wants! That is the expertise of so many Lindywell members, together with Jordan, who shared:
“Lindywell’s exercises are various, attention-grabbing, and efficient. I like that almost all are below 25 minutes, so I can really make time many mornings to rise up and work out earlier than my children rise up. My relationship with my physique is healthier than it has been for years as a result of I do know that I’m caring for myself in a sustainable manner.”
2. Pair the brand new behavior with an present one.
Consistency hinges on repetition. One of the simplest ways to recollect to repeat that motion is with habit-stacking. To do that, you join the brand new motion to an present routine that is already second nature to you.
Utilizing the identical instance of mindfulness, with behavior stacking, you would possibly do these three gradual breaths as you get in your automotive on the finish of the day or if you get up every morning. Hearken to my behavior stacking podcast episode to be taught extra about this!
3. Hyperlink the behavior to a optimistic affiliation.
On the most elementary degree, a behavior will take root when a stimulus-response affiliation varieties in your mind. In different phrases, I do X, and Y occurs. That is only if it is a optimistic affiliation.
If we proceed with the mindfulness instance, chances are you’ll discover you’re feeling much less anxious after you are taking three deep breaths as soon as a day. While you acknowledge this, you are inspired to maintain doing it as a result of anxiousness would not make you’re feeling good, and deep respiratory does.
Earlier than you recognize it, these three breaths flip right into a 5-minute each day meditation after which some days you even do a 20-minute each day breathwork session. At some point you understand you have not felt anxious in weeks, regardless of some current obstacles and challenges. That is the facility of consistency.
Consistency Is Important for Constructing Lifelong Habits
Lifelong habits provide help to navigate every season, it doesn’t matter what you are going by. In the case of motivation vs. consistency, the latter is extra highly effective in serving to you construct these. Whereas motivation is a superb start line, that alone will not provide help to construct habits that provide help to handle your self in each season, as motivation naturally comes and goes. In my e book, consistency beats motivation each time!
One option to follow being constant is to start out a 14-day free trial of Lindywell. Our Pilates exercises vary from 15 to half-hour and are good for inexperienced persons and skilled practitioners alike! Enroll right now to get on the spot entry and see for those who might be constant for 14 days straight.
Lindywell is probably the most wonderful program I’ve ever taken half in. I’ve stayed on monitor for five days per week since I began nearly two years in the past. That is as a result of many choices accessible on the positioning, the each day selection and suppleness of doing this system in my schedule. It actually is genius. – Anne
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