Do you have a hard time getting started on your goals? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with where to start or how much work it’s going to take to reach your goals? If so, this video is for YOU! I’m sharing an awesome piece of advice I got nearly ten years ago, from a personal trainer. Plus, I’m breaking down the psychology of this piece of advice and why it works so well.
If you want to tap into the secret to motivation and get started on your goals, then don’t miss this video!
Whatever you’re working toward, getting started on your goals can be one of the toughest things. And staying motivated is a close second. So often, we’re focused on the countless steps needed to get to the end of our goal. We get so overwhelmed about the entire process that we don’t actually start. So my trainer’s advice was simple. “Get your shoes, get here, and if after ten minutes on the treadmill, you want to leave, go for it.” I thought he was joking, but he assured me he was serious. So I tried it, and to my surprise, it worked! When I focused on the tiny action step of just ten minutes on the treadmill, my goal felt doable. And once I got going, I almost always wanted to do more.
My trainer’s advice taps into what we know about motivation. It doesn’t fall from the sky, and it’s not a necessary part of getting started. Action leads to motivation, which leads to more action. I’ve shared about this relationship in a previous video (see that video here), and it’s key to remember when getting started on your goals. You don’t have to do it all. Just take one small action step, no matter how unmotivated you feel. Ninety percent of the time, after this little bit of action, your motivation will increase, and you’ll want to keep going.
You can apply this principle to so many different goals. Not feeling motivated to clean? Set the timer for 15 minutes, and when it goes off, decide whether or not you want to keep going. Not in the mood to meal prep for the week? Start with one meal, then see if you want to do one or two more. Trying to read more but feeling like you’d rather flip on the TV? Read one chapter and then decide whether or not you want to keep going.
Getting started on your goals isn’t rocket science. It’s about taking one small step to start with. Just focus on that first step, then reevaluate from there. And like my trainer said, if you want to go home after ten minutes, call it a day. We can all do ten minutes, right?
What goal are you struggling to get started on? What small step can you challenge yourself to take, no matter how unmotivated you feel?
PS: Want another productivity hack? Check out this simple tip that is keeping me on track lately!
