Staying Consistent

Discipline is a struggle. I have an ample amount of it for a very small amount tasks but it feels almost non-existent for others.

For the things that I have stayed consistent with, like this newsletter, here are three lessons learned:

Be consistent about your starting time.

My writing starts every day without fail between 7-7:10 am. I don’t compromise on it and I don’t change it. The only barrier I have to overcome is starting every morning because my habits take care of the rest once I start.

Find a triple bottom line for the task.

For anything I want to stay consistent in, I try to articulate at least three meaningful reasons for why that task is important. It is easy to stay consistent when the task benefits you in the short term, helps you achieve a long-term goal, and helps others in a meaningful way. When I started commuting to work by bike, my triple bottom line was that (1) it saved me about $200 a month in commuting costs, (2) it guaranteed me at least 40 minutes of cardio 4-5 days a week which was part of my long-term fitness goals, and (3) it was better for the planet in that it reduced my carbon footprint.

Build accountability into your habit.

If you were to miss your task, you need to feel like you can’t hide it from at least one other person. When I didn’t bike to work, my coworkers would notice. When I don’t write my newsletter, I know my readers will notice. That’s why many fitness apps come built in with a “leaderboard” because it builds accountability (and competition) into the task.

Even with following these lessons, one day you will eventually fail to complete your task. Life happens and that is ok. The important thing will be to start the habit again as soon as possible so that you keep your momentum pointed in the right direction.

Staying consistent is about momentum, meaning, and accountability. Just remember MMA when you want to stay consistent with a task.