How to Gain Momentum: 5 Quick Tips to Get Back on Track
Did you know that January 18th is the date that most people who are going to fail, actually fail their New Year’s Resolution diet? When I worked in the chronic weight management business, this date was touted as a fact by our marketers. I’ve since read a few reports that back up this claim.
If you’re behind on your goal or resolution, you are not alone. You’re probably trying to figure out “how do I get myself back on track?”
The good news is that you can move forward today and get yourself back on track. This article offers 5 tips to get back on track and gain momentum.
Did you watch anything on TV last night? If you’re reading this article in January, it’s likely you were inundated with commercials from various “weight loss” options.
So what? Well, to take the weight loss example a bit further, the third week trying to achieve our goals is when we’re most likely to quit. Makes sense, doesn’t it?
When you feel yourself slipping behind any goal you’ve set, it can seem impossible to get back on track. Whether you’re feeling frustrated in your job or career or relationship, or you just don’t know which step to take next, it can feel like you’ll never meet your goal.
Do not despair! You can use your frustration to propel yourself out of your funk and back onto the road to achievement.
You just have to work out how to build momentum again. Here are five expert tips you can use to get yourself back on track.
Leave Your Past Behind
Several years ago, I had the chance to attend a practice round for the PGA championship. I don’t golf a lot, but I am attracted to seeing people who are at the top of their game.
One of the most amazing things I saw during my day on the links following the professional golfers was this: they make bad shots, too. What impressed me was the fact that they were not too rattled by being in the tall grass off the fairway or in the bunker. In fact, their next shot, or their recovery shot, was where they really showed their skill.
Just because they faced an obstacle, they didn’t give up on the hole. The put the poor shot out of their mind and often executed a great recovery shot that put them back on track to score well.
Think about your situation. Now is the time to be kind to yourself and cut loose from the past. You can choose to let go of whatever is holding you back. Everyone has baggage, and everyone makes mistakes. Don’t let the bad things from the past stop you from making a better future. It’s time for your recovery shot.
Be Kind to Yourself
Self-compassion is probably one of the most underrated of human qualities. Are you beating yourself up for missing your goal today? Do you feel guilty? It is okay to forgive yourself for coming up short.
It’s hard to move forward if you’re beating yourself up. As high achievers, we’re wired to do that, aren’t we?
One of my favorite quotes from C. S. Lewis is “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
This is so true.
Mistakes are only a problem if you can’t learn from them. Accept your past you and your present you, then step forward into being the best version of yourself – your future self.
Learn the Lesson
Instead of beating yourself up for being behind on your goal, turn it around and think of what your situation is teaching you. The fact that you know you’re off track tells you that you already know what’s wrong and that it’s time to change something in your life.
Listen to this feeling. What is it telling you to change?
Do you have a strong enough reason why you must achieve this goal? The stronger your reasons for achieving a goal, the more likely you’ll achieve it. To paraphrase entrepreneur Tony Robbins, you’ll succeed when your “shoulds” become your “musts.”
Do you have too many goals? You may be biting off more that you can do. To achieve your most important goal requires that you give the goal appropriate focus, time and resources. Have you committed to the goal, or is it a nice to do?
What behaviors do you have to change to meet your goal? Good question. Wishing a goal to be is not enough. You need to consistently execute the behaviors and tasks required to meet your goal.
Think Big
When you feel challenge, sometimes your vision shrinks so you see only what’s right in front of you. It’s hard to see a path forward.
Step back and, just for a moment, imagine a what it will feel like when you reach this goal. What do you see? How do you feel? What are you doing?
Once you’ve once again visualized your desired goal outcome, start to think about all of the possible ways you can reach that goal. Life life full of possibilities, isn’t it?
Give yourself a chance to see your path forward, then re-imagine the steps you’ll need to accomplish along the way.
Acknowledge Where You Are
It’s okay to struggle. By acknowledging where you stand today, you begin the process of recovery and set the stage for achievement.
Fortunately for us, we can make mid-course corrections to get ourselves back on track. If you are a salesperson who is behind her goal, acknowledging your reality is a great first step.
Once we know where we stand, we can take corrective measures. For the sales example, if we’re behind expectations, we could revise our plan to have one additional customer interaction each day for the rest of the quarter.
The steps you take are up to you. Start where you are.
As we close out these 5 tips for getting yourself back on track, consider these words from Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Mr. Carnegie said, “The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.”
Your success is your choice. What will you do to get yourself back on track now?
- Leave Your Past Behind
- Be Kind to Yourself
- Learn the Lesson
- Think Big
- Acknowledge Where You Are
How can you make it a great day today?
