Committing VS. Staying Committed

At some point, we notice that a standard in an area of our lives has been dropped.  This could be in our health by eating poorly or not exercising enough; in our relationships by putting up with something for too long and not speaking up; or in our finances, where we've overspent (again) and we find ourselves in a hole.  No matter what the circumstance, you find yourself in the same position over and over again, like a dog chasing it’s tail or a hamster running on a wheel.  In an instant, your frustrations come out and you decide, “Enough of this!”.  You are not going to let this situation happen to you again and you commit to making a change in your life.  You decide to join a gym, cut out junk food or start standing up for yourself.  Congrats!  That’s wonderful!  You've made a commitment.

Now comes the hard part….staying committed.  Let’s say you decided that you would go on a diet or as I call it, a “lifestyle modification program”.  Then day 2 comes along and you’re hungry, or a work party, family holiday, etc.  How do you fight the urge to return to your old ways?

Here are some tips on staying committed:

1. Set a realistic time frame. It is often said that it takes 21 days to create a habit.  Commit for 21 days (or a reasonable time) and re-evaluate after that time.
2. Plan ahead.  If you’re trying to fit in something new, i.e. exercise or time to manage your finances, plan it into your weekly schedule.
3. Go easy on yourself.  You do not have to be perfect.  Do not get down on yourself if you slip up.  Get back up and try it again.
4. Reward yourself.  Set up a reward at the end of your committed time frame.  Go to the spa, get a relaxing massage, do something you love.
5. Come in for a session.  If you’re having trouble committing or staying committed, let me know and we can do some exercises to find out what’s holding you back.