I wasn't quite sure how to title this post. I am not trying to ''motivate' you and I don't wish to sound cliched. I would, however, like to share a few thoughts on those physical and thought processes that help me keep going, chugging along, plowing through - whatever phrase one wants to use to describe putting one foot in front of the other, regardless of circumstance. I have recently had a few people ask me how I find the will to do what I do, whether it's exercise with consistency, stick with healthy eating, power through endless to-do-lists, or just...keep it together. Whilst I don't necessarily feel I do any of the above with ease, I can say, hand on heart, that I try my best. I feel the word 'try' can sometimes be used to excuse one's laziness, but I use it more in the context of just giving life, fitness, work, nutrition, or whatever it may be, your very best shot.
I'm going to try to be as genuine as I can in this post and I hope that it is apparent. Here are a few things I do to get myself in order and keep going.
Start.
To complete a task or achieve a goal, you have to first begin. Seemingly simple, but often so hard.
Plan. Make lists. Stay organized.
Whether I'm in Seoul or Doha, I do my best to plan life and stay organized. In Doha, for example. where I cook most of our meals from scratch, I make weekly grocery lists and meal plans. This cuts down on costs, trips to the store and ensures we generally eat healthily. Each week, I plan most of my workouts. I slot them into my day plans and know when I'll be doing what. I also plot general tasks and chores into my day schedule to ensure that I keep on top of things as far as possible. It's a great feeling to be able to tick off tasks from your list and look back at the end of the week to see how much you have accomplished.
I regret not having been so organized earlier on in life. I often feel that I missed out on so much at university because I led a scattered existence. I am endeavoring to learn from this experience.
Look around you. Who do you admire? Who inspires you?
One can always do better. Look for inspiration in those people who work harder than you, push further and who are more determined. I know a few women like this and (possibly) unbeknownst to them, they motivate me to strive for better.
I'm working on this next bit: there will always be those people who seem to get away with doing less. This is especially true in a world where Jumeirah Janes abound. (What shall we call these types in Doha?) Rather than wonder why I'm continuing to hustle when faced with these sorts, I'm instead focusing on seeking inspiration from those women who do more, push further, aim higher and blossom wherever they are planted.
Look back. How far have you come?
I'm not very good at this either. But it is important to look back on how far you have come. I often feel like I'm not accomplishing as much as I should or that I progress too slowly. Reflection and perspective allow you to see how far you have come on your journey, not just how far you have yet to go.
Don't allow yourself the option to give up.
I find that if I mentally accept the possibility of' giving up on a task, whether it's cleaning up my kitchen after dinner or completing a workout after a long day of work, I'm much more likely to. Don't give yourself the option to give up and you'll be far less likely to succumb to the negative feelings pulling you down.
I'm not sure if this post was helpful. Writing it was therapeutic for me and I hope you will have found it worth reading.
