Consistency & accountability.

[PaperFlyingFucks]

Tell me about how you manage consistency and accountability for the things/goals you want to achieve in life?

I really struggle to keep anything up despite desire to. Usual culprits weight loss, exercise, hobbies, household....

I need to find a system that works as I'm boring myself. I'm mid forties and would like to get a grip of this. Hoping that if you share strategies something will stick.

I'm really good at the theoretical but the practicality, nope!

Post it note, if I write a reminder on one of those it means I need to do it before I can chuck it away

Alarm clock, I can sleep through most alarms so I recorded myself banging pots and pans and shouting 'get up you lazy cow' and set it to the clock

With exercise I think the key thing is to build it into your weekly routine, eg I go to a weekly pilates class and that's very much now part of my routine. Also you have to pay for the classes in advance, so I'd be wasting my money if I didn't go. If I just had a general intention to do pilates exercises at some point during the week, I wouldn't get round to it.

I struggle with this too. I have found that these things help

1. Being really, boringly consistent and not giving myself choices. It's Tuesday, so we change the beds, it's Sunday morning so I run a drum-cleaning cycle on the washing machine, that kind of thing.

2. Stop struggling to motivate myself, and let structures take over. If I intend to take myself into the gym, it's very easy to get distracted and end up doing something else. Instead, I happily book and attend at least 6 exercise classes a week, more if I can, dependent on work. My gym membership includes all classes, but if I don't show up I will be charged, so I just book, write it on the planner and go. It's become a normal part of my life. If I fit in a gym session alongside my classes that's great, but if not I don't beat myself up about it.

3. It's not an aspiration, it's my new way of life. With food, I just stopped eating certain things (with the odd rare exception), even though I really like them, e.g. brioche, bagels, crisps. I don't feel deprived because I am leaning into the healthier end of foods I enjoy, e.g. loads of nuts, dark chocolate instead of milk. Following recipes helps me, as again it takes the decision-making out of my hands, and I can make meals that I can split over 2 days. If you find a book you really like and that's all healthy stuff, you don't really have to think about it - for me it's the Zoe book.

4. Setting things up in advance. I do an online barre class, so the night before I set up my 'barre' (ironing board😂) , my mat, ball, bands, hand weights and water. It's there in the morning, and if I don't do the thing I will have to put everything away and be disappointed in myself, as I don't have enough space to just pretend it's not there! So, I do the thing.

5. Something is better than nothing, always. I haven't got enough time to do the 50-minute barre class I'd planned? Er, maybe not even the 30-minute one? OK, I'll squeeze in the 20 minute one. Failed to get my arse out of the door to get to gym class on time? I go the gym, swipe in whilst the class is on, and the system will log me as present. I then go into the gym and do 15-20 minutes on a machine, maybe lift a few weights. This way, I've done something for myself and I haven't been charged.

Sorry for long post! At the moment I'm sat around with COVID, so yeah, life will get in the way from time to time. My house needs a lot of work, my diet isn't perfect, but mostly if I just treat myself (kindly) like an idiot, I can at least get some things done.

Thank you. This is helpful.

😂 @ShakyBake I struggle to get up too.

I'm hearing create structures and don't think about it too much should see some improvement.

@ChildrenOfAlbionRovers no need to apologise, there's lots of great stuff there and I appreciate you taking the time.

It's the October break, in my Local Authority, this week so I have the week off with the kids. I'm going to make some plans over the next couple of days to hopefully make some progress. Perhaps, some post its would be a good idea.

Trying to work compressed hours with the kids and various clubs, makes finding time for myself challenging. I'm often knackered and low on time.

I could tell you a story about my gym membership that is horribly indicative of my personality and mindset but at least I have one and can endeavour to use it.

Thanks again.