Hey everyone,
First off, Happy New Year!!
Today, I am finally back, after a rather long break, to talk about consistency.
Ironic right? I know. 😛
Jokes apart, consistency is something I really struggle with. I am, for the most part, in that category of people who work based on inspiration more than regular effort, particularly on projects that don’t have a deadline. This has started changing only recently.
You see, once I realized that consistency is an issue with me, I have been putting in consistent effort to change that. I know that it hasn’t been showing here lately, but that is because I have been focusing on completing another incomplete project of mine.
Coming back to the topic at hand, let’s talk about how to become consistent in life.
The Psychology Behind The Struggle With Consistency
Before we go into what we can do to improve consistency, we should look at why we struggle with it in the first place. If you’re like me, it is probably because you’re more focused on the outcome than the process.
But you should be focused on the outcome right? That is what keeps you going!
Well, yes and no!
You see, your big dreams/ outcomes likely cannot be reached without a lot of consistent effort. And if you are too focused on them, more than the process, you are prone to give up before you achieve anything.
So yes, you need to have an eye on the prize, but you must also learn to enjoy the process. The best way I’ve found for this is to set small daily goals that, over time, will get you where you want to go.
Practices To Become Consistent In Life
A little disclaimer before we get into the steps.
100% consistency is impossible; there are definitely going to be bad days. If you look for 100% consistency and beat yourself up when you don’t achieve it, you’re just setting yourself up for failure.
When you fall off track, you must look at it as a lesson and learn from it. You can then forgive yourself and focus on being more consistent after that.
Now, without further ado, here are some practices to become more consistent:
Be Present
Being present essentially means being fully focused on the task at hand, without worrying about the future or past. You cannot change what has already happened, and the only way to change the future is to focus on whatever it is you have to do now.
You see, your mind is going to bring up self-doubt. The key is to listen, acknowledge, and then do it anyway.
Set Daily Goals
As I said before, the best way to achieve big dreams is to set small daily goals that lead you towards them. It is always easier when you have to focus only on taking action today and then just do that every day.
That way, you are likely to stay inspired and continue taking action to achieve your dreams, a.k.a consistency.
Do It Even When You Don’t Feel Like It
You are definitely going to have days when you don’t feel like doing anything. These are those ‘bad days’ I mentioned before, on which your mind will tell you to procrastinate.
Do Not listen to that advice.
Even if you feel totally uninspired, do it anyway. Something I frequently tell myself when I have such days is “the only way out is through.” This helps me begin doing whatever it is I am supposed to be doing. And once I begin, more often than not, I end up finishing or at least getting through a majority of it.
Be Accountable
Having an accountability partner is a great thing while trying to become more consistent at something; someone who is willing to hold you to the promise you made to yourself and them. A friend or a family member is easily the best option for this.
However, if you are trying to develop a habit, accountability will only get you so far. You have to learn to shift your mindset around the activity that you have to do to develop the habit. For example if you are trying to develop a reading habit, you must learn to love reading.
Celebrate Wins
Celebrating little wins is extremely undervalued. You may think that doing so will make you cocky. On the contrary, celebrating your little wins allows you develop your self-confidence and continue taking on bigger projects toward your dreams.
So, the next time you gain a new follower for your Instagram business or get the check for the piece of writing you sold, allow yourself to enjoy it. It’ll be good for you.
Take A Break
I told you before that 100% consistency is impossible.
This is 100% true, and not only because you will have ‘bad days’. You may also have times when you need to take a break and rest. In fact, quite often you have ‘bad days’ because your body has been telling you to rest and you were not listening to it.
See, I’ve noticed that many people don’t understand the importance of resting. When you take a break and rest it often helps you take a step back from what you’ve been doing and see both how far you’ve come and where you can improve.
Moreover, resting your body and mind allows both to rejuvenate and help you come up with new perspectives and ideas. And if you’re in the creative field like me, this can be extremely important for your career.
Well, that’s it. These are my top tips to become more consistent in life and achieve all your dreams.
That’s it for now. Until next time folks!
Stories and Wisdom 
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