Let’s check in. How are you doing on those goals you/your team set back in January?
If this is the first time you’ve thought about those goals since January, that’s okay. Most people stop working toward their new year goals within two to three weeks of January! However, you can still pick it up, we still have nine months left of the year!
If you have been working on those goals consistently, the good news is you’re likely to continue to succeed. But it doesn’t mean it isn’t a grind. It’s not at all uncommon for the daily trudge to start to wear on you. The “new goals” have lost their shiny new-ness and you’re settled into taking those small steps forward.
So, what do we do? How do we keep on keeping on, even when we’re not feeling like it?
It comes down to discipline. Discipline is what we have to rely on when motivation, which is usually based in emotion, is lacking. The debate between motivation and discipline is a common one I have with coaching clients and what the right balance is, isn’t the same for everyone, but, here are some tips on leaning into discipline when motivation is running low.
#1 Remember why you set the goal in the first place.
You/your team created this goal for a reason, so remembering why that was can help re-ignite the importance and, potentially, the passion behind it.
If you’re in a situation where the goals were set for you, how does this goal connect to why you took the role? Or, how does it connect to what you want to contribute to the world in your life?
Write this down and put it somewhere where you will see it in your workspace!
#2 Write out the small steps
Not much to add here! But let me give you a few examples. Write out the smaller steps it will take to get there. Sometimes, goals feel overwhelming because we only think about the big picture and not the smaller, manageable parts.
For example, if you’re working toward hitting a specific sales goal, break it down into smaller actions like reaching out to 5 potential clients today or scheduling one networking coffee this week.
Or, let’s say you have a personal behavioral goal to stop being so reactive mode around XZY co-worker. Start by reflecting on your reactions after they take place and note what warning signs you can cue in on the next time around. Then, when you can catch yourself going into reactive mode, come up with a plan to give yourself time to get out of it before saying/doing anything, such as taking a deep breath or asking the co-worker to revisit the conversation in an hour.
It’s the same for team goals! If your team is pushing toward launching a new product, list out individual tasks like scheduling brainstorming sessions, finalizing design reviews, or prepping marketing copy.
You can also break it down into bite-sized chunks by asking, “What are two things I can do today to make progress?” Maybe today it’s just making the call or sending the email—small steps add up!
The key is to make the path forward so simple and specific that it feels manageable, even on days when the big picture feels like too much.
#3 Do the dang thing.
Once you’ve outlined some small steps you can take, separate how you feel from the action that needs to be taken. My husband calls this “going into task mode.”
While our emotions contain helpful information for us, they don’t always tell us the truth, and they change often! But taking action can often change how we feel. So just to get you started, quiet those feelings of “I can’t” “I don’t want to” “I don’t know how to get started…” and take the next action.
In fact, when you shift your mindset to “task mode” (aka: I have XYZ task today and I will complete XZY task), it can help quiet those unhelpful thoughts mentioned above because you’re consciously shifting your focus to the task itself.
The win of accomplishing the small task is likely to create a positive emotional shift and will probably relieve some of that pressure you might be feeling for not making the progress you know you could.
So there you have it- 3 tips to lean into discipline when motivation is lacking! Now stop reading and get going 😊
Bonus Tip: Treat yourself!
Pick some type of reward to indulge in after making progress toward the goal. Whether it’s a 5-minute social media scroll, a piece of candy, or letting yourself end the day 20 minutes earlier, giving yourself something to look forward to is a proven tactic to enhance motivation.
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