Consistency is the Key to Success: 6 Simple actionable tips to develop consistency

Introduction

Many of us are able to set goals and create a plan of action to achieve them. Some of us also start taking actions based on the blueprint of the action plan. However, most of us stop after a while.

Familiar story, isn’t it?

For instance, I decide to lose weight. I choose to get up early, go for a walk every morning, exercise and start eating healthy. I may even begin these activities but then something happens and I am not able to continue. Maybe I get busy, something important comes up or I simply lose interest. I may start with the whole cycle again,  till the time I again remember to do it, but there is really no consistency.

Consistency is the Key

This makes one realise, consistency is really important.

In order to achieve the desired weight, I need to exercise regularly and not once in a blue moon! This is true for almost every other goal or outcome you wish to achieve. Doing something consistently and not just when you feel inspired and motivated to do it, is extremely important.

What is Consistency?

Consistency means focusing on the task at hand in the present moment while maintaining a long term vision.

When we do something regularly, we get feedback. This feedback helps us to change course when required.

Consistency, in other words, is therefore all about repetition. It’s about repeating the same actions (habits and rituals) over and over again; gaining feedback from these actions and adjusting them accordingly to help stay on track as we work towards our goal.

What makes consistency difficult?

We all are aware that maintaining consistency is an essential thing but all of us, at some point or the other, struggle to be consistent in what we do. Or in other words, even though the concept of staying consistent seems very simple on the surface, most people struggle with this idea.

They find it difficult to stay consistent because there are just too many distractions. People are simply not focused, committed or disciplined enough to stick with something in the short-term for long-term results.

Today, we look for instant gratification and in the want of that, we fail to acknowledge that some things do take time. When we don’t get immediate results, we don’t see the point in continuing those actions over the long run. But consistency isn’t about obtaining quick results, rather it’s about maintaining incremental progress over a period of time.

Principles on which Consistency is based

The idea of consistency is based on three underlying principles.

1. Patience: Patience is the key to consistency: we have to be patient and focus our efforts diligently in one direction in order to produce quality, lasting, tangible results.One of the main reasons people don’t stick with what they’re doing, whatever it might be, is simply impatience. A good example of this is in the world of diet. People try something for a week or two and, impatient for results, immediately run off to the next interesting thing that they see in an ad or on a website.
2. Belief: Likewise, failing to believe in what you’re doing will definitely kill your consistency in doing it. Or, to look at it another way, make you much more consistent at NOT doing it.Your consistency, or lack thereof, in what you do is a good indication of your true belief about it.
3. Value: The perceived value for  a particular thing, which results from the action you need to take should be taken into consideration. Everything that we do is generally motivated by one of two things: fear and desire.In either case, you take action based on perceived value: running from a bear has the value of saving your life, while running as a form of running has the value of maintaining your health. It is a natural tendency that if we fail to see some kind of return from whatever we’re doing, we are automatically demotivated and as a result, our consistency suffers.

Now the question of how to be consistent arises, here are some ways to inculcate consistency in things we do.

Simple tips to develop consistency and achieve success

1. Reminders

   Sometimes it is easy to forget goals, habits, commitments especially when we make these  to ourselves. To remind yourself throughout the day, put messages to yourself in visible areas such as around home, workspace and surroundings helps a lot.

   Placing reminders at a particular place such as mirror, computer, car dashboard and planner. You can also put a reminder on your phone, using a reminder app can also be helpful.

2. Reward yourself when you get even a small task done

   Evan small goals deserve rewards it can be anything that makes you happy and not necessarily a big thing. Rewarding yourself acts as a kind of reinforcement. A behaviour rewarded has a high chance of being repeated.

   Why?

   Because you are acknowledging and appreciating yourself which makes you feel good, and in order to feel good you continue repeating that behaviour.

   For example, if you’ve managed to complete your work by 6pm everyday for a wee, take can evening off, go see a movie or treat yourself with a special dinner.

3. Mistakes means correcting them

   Sometimes despite our best planning, due to external factors we make mistakes. In a way mistakes give us a feedback of how can we improve things we are doing. But we take mistakes as a message of discontinuing the whole thing halfway and starting something completely new.

   Don’t beat yourself up if you make a mistake along the way. Consistency doesn’t equal perfection, if in case you miss a day at the gym or indulge in eating a dessert encourage yourself to start again the very next day.

4. Use motivational tools to keep going

   When one is stressed or tired, it can be very easy just to  let the goals slide for a day, but these actions can quickly cause you to get off the track. And when you feel in a similar way or kind of lazy to keep going, try to find new sources of motivation.

   It can be reminding yourself importance of long term goals. For instance if you want to eat healthy more consistently but you have no time to cook, pick up a salad instead of fast food. Space out things and take small break this won’t let you feel bored.

5. Give yourself time to see changes

   Whenever you try to do something understand that you that it can take time. Instead of trying to do it only once or twice do it everyday.

   Repetition is the key here, when we do it again and again we start getting results.

6. Visit a Coach or a Therapist

   Coaches and therapists are trained professionals who understand that consistency is the key to success. If you are a an individual who is not able to develop consistency, visiting a coach can be extremely beneficial. That said at times, it is difficult to be consistent because of certain underlying deeper issues. In such a case it is recommended to work with a trained therapist instead of a coach.

   Feel free to call +91-8080-2084-73 to connect with one of our certified coaches or trained therapists, you can assist you in creating the work-life balance more systematically and naturally.