How to Stay Committed to Long Term Goals

I wrote about turning ‘bad habits’ into good habits. What I meant is, the same way we form ad habits, one little step at a time, is the same technique we should use for our long term goals.

http://yinvsyang.com/

i’ve just started on a 12 week health and exercise program to get me ready for my wedding. i’m an avid gym goer but if i don’t keep refreshing what i do then it gets old and i lose motivation.

for me the biggest way to stay motivated and reach the objective is planning.

one saying goes, ‘if you fail to plan, you plan to fail’ and to me that is so true.

for my exercise plan i have put together a 12 week schedule, days, times, exercises, meal times. there really is no time when i’ll think to myself

hhhmmm, what should i do now…i can’t decide so i just won’t do anything.

ambiguity is a big reason why people fail because its always easier to do nothing!

James
http://www.socialsupremacy.com

I agree with Pete and will add that neuroscientists have recently “proven” what philosophers have known for thousands of years: The brain can be rewired!

The neuroscientists call this process, “neuroplasticity.” Philosophers call it, among other things, “habit” or “mindfulness.”

Essentially, it is the process of reducing and removing “bad habits” and the formation of “good habits.” The greatest challenge for us is that habits take time to form and our brain tends to prefer short-term results.

All of this, in my view, is the struggle of “mind vs. brain” and for the mind to “win,” self-awareness is essential…

“As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

That list is short and sweet and straight to the point, I seem to be attracting short and simple this week. Mantra, rituals, plan, auto-respond those are great steps. The one I found most useful is auto-response, my new auto-response is “My day must be effective.” I go to sleep feeling like I have accomplished something or I don’t sleep. It has worked miracles for me. Thanks for sharing the list.

-Tabs

I especially like the bit about looking to the future but living in the present. That’s always been a challenge for me. I live in the future so don’t actually do anything now.

I’m getting better though and follow through on more of my goals now.

@Thomas: Thanks man, it means a lot to me.

@James: Ambiguity and letting not knowing paralyze you is probably the biggest reason for broken dreams. You have to make the path yourself.

@Janelle: That’s awesome. Having a support system is definitely a great way to keep yourself accountable.

@Stephen: Another great way to keep yourself accountable.

It’s far from original, but I find it really does help to remind myself of my long term goals each morning by reading an affirmation before starting to write a to-do list for the day (which I do before checking my email)

The ritual is really important. After all, losing weight permanently is about lifestyle change, and for that the right habits need to be in place.

Something that i am Trying to achive for along time. Must admit is a difficult thing..
Never the less i shall keep trying

Thanks

yeah, a long term goal is important!

please send me inspirational articles to stay focussed on my goals

Make a long term goal, but also make short-term ones to lead up to your long term goal. If you keep completing your short term goals you will get closer and closer to achieving your long term. Make sure your goals are are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely, which are the main principles when making a goal

I set a lot of goals for myself. I used to accomplish less than half of them because I wasn’t approaching them in the right way. The goals I set weren’t always clear and I couldn’t keep track of everything. I found this online organizer a couple of months ago and it has made all the difference. I can now easily follow the plans I make, and the plans themselves are now clear. It’s awesome.

Excellent idea to create a goal prop. The fact that I’ve just heard of this for the first time might be the same for many others too. I feel this is why many New Year’s Resolutions simply fade away.

It’s sad because that tends to cause a lot of stress on people as each new year comes. This then can compound into a greater burden as in perhaps eating more or eating badly, not exercising and generally deteriorating rather than improving our health.

You mention “time” as our most precious commodity. I would like to add “health” to that list as well.

It’s very important to manage stress overall so look now over here (http://HowtoRelieveStressEasily.com) for strategies you can use for handling stress,anxiety,panic attacks, phobias, depression and tips in your pursuit of happiness.

This didn’t help me my goals are not so motivational to achieve do the long term. I need something to motivate me to keep saving money for more financial independance. But what should a visual money because my goal isn’t to spend it but not depend on other for anything. The other goal is breaking the shoulder length plateau of hair which, just doesn’t seem to have any solution no matter how I improve my habits or the sound advice I have gotten. Looking at a picture of a girl with long hair just reminds me that I haven’t even gotten an inch closer literally to that goal. I just don’t have individuals that are great at supporting these goals. Especially with a mother and family saying that as far as your hair will grow.

 Great stuff, I have been looking for something like this for a long time! Thanks!