7 Tips for Staying Motivated and on Track with Your Goals

It can be tough to stay motivated when you’re trying to achieve a goal. You might start strong but then lose momentum and find it hard to get back on track. But don’t worry – we’ve all been there. If goals were easy to achieve, they wouldn’t be called goals!

The good news is that there are many things you can do to stay motivated and on track with your goals. Let’s explore a few of them.

1. Set realistic goals
   One of the main reasons people lose motivation is because their goals are either too vague or too ambitious. If your goals are unrealistic, it’s only natural that you’ll start to lose interest and feel like giving up.
   Instead, set yourself achievable goals that are specific and measurable. For example, rather than setting a goal to “meditate more” or “get in shape,” set a goal to meditate for 10 minutes every day or to go for a 30-minute walk three times per week. What are some tips for setting realistic goals?
   Get crystal clear about what you’re trying to achieve
   How will you know when you have achieved your goal?
   Set a deadline for yourself.
   Check in periodically to make sure you’re on track
   Adjust your goal metrics as needed if you’re getting off course
   Use SMART goal-setting principles
   SMART goals are a popular framework for goal setting that can help make sure your goals are realistic. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time- bound.
2. Make a plan
   Once you’ve set your goals, it’s time to make a plan of action. What steps do you need to take to reach your goal?
   Again, be specific and realistic in your planning. If your goal is to meditate for 10 minutes daily, write down when and where you will meditate each day. If your goal is to walk for 30 minutes 3 times per week, schedule those walks into your calendar.
3. Determine your milestones
   In addition to your overall goal, it can be helpful to set smaller milestones that you can achieve along the way. These milestones will help keep you motivated and on track, as you’ll be able to see your progress more clearly.
   For example, meditating for 10 minutes every day is your goal, a milestone could be to meditate for 5 minutes every day for two weeks straight. Or, if your goal is to walk for 30 minutes 3 times per week, a milestone could be to walk for 30 minutes 2 times per week for two weeks straight.
   As you achieve each milestone, you can set the bar a little higher each time and continue progressing towards your larger goal.
4. Reward yourself
   As you achieve each milestone, take some time to celebrate your success! Giving yourself that hit of dopamine will help you maintain motivation and make it more exciting to achieve your goals.
   For example, if you reach your goal of walking for 30 minutes 3 times per week, you could treat yourself to a new pair of walking shoes or a massage. Or, if you reach your goal of meditating for 10 minutes every day, you could buy yourself a nice journal to use during your meditation practice.
5. Find a support network
   It can be tough to stay motivated when you’re trying to achieve a goal on your own. But if you have friends or family members who are supportive of your goals, they can make all the difference.
   Find an accountability buddy
   Having someone who can help you stay accountable to your goals is a great way to stay motivated. This could be a friend, family member, or someone that’s working towards a similar goal.
   You can create times throughout the day or week to check in with each other to see how your goals are progressing or to discuss what roadblocks you ran into.
   Join an online forum or community of people with similar goals
   Online communities can provide great support, motivation, and advice for people working towards similar goals. There are forums and groups for just about every kind of goal you might want to achieve, so do some research and find one that aligns with your goals.
   Find a coach or mentor who can help you stay on track
   If you’re struggling to stay motivated, working with a coach or mentor might be helpful. This is someone who can help you develop a plan to reach your goals and give you the support and accountability needed to stay on track.
6. Visualize success
   Studies have shown that envisioning yourself succeeding can help boost the motivation you need to keep going. Take some time to visualize what it will feel like once you reach your goal. What will your life be like? How will you feel?
   There are many ways to practice visualization, so find one that works for you. You could try: Creating a vision board
   Writing down your vision of the goal being achieved
   Use a guided meditation to help you visualize your success
7. Make it fun
   If you’re not enjoying the process of achieving your goal, it’s going to be that much harder to stay motivated. So make sure to find ways to make the journey fun and exciting!
   Listening to upbeat music while you work out will help you push through that last mile. Or treating yourself to your favorite dessert after completing a task will keep you excited about reaching your goal. Whatever works for you, make sure to do it!
   You’ve got this!
   Try some of these tips if you’re looking for a way to stay on track and motivated while working towards your goals. Having a supportive network, visualizing success, and making the process fun can all help make the journey more enjoyable. And if things get tough – which they will – know that you’ve got this! Celebrate each milestone along the way and keep moving forward towards your ultimate goal.