Suzie Key Tima

This post is based on my personal experience with giving up. I have struggled for many years with a destructive pattern, and it usually goes like this:

• I make a decision to start/stop doing something
• I fail once
• I give up on my decision
• I get a jolt of motivation
• I start over

I consider this a destructive pattern because I lose a lot of time between giving up myself and starting over. That waiting period is usually depressing and sets me back physically and mentally.

Why you shouldn’t do that?

• It reinforces this pattern of quitting
  The more you repeat this behavior, the easier it will be to continue doing it.
• It makes it harder to start It requires more energy to start something or move something than it does to keep it moving. Static friction is simply greater than kinetic friction.
• It demotivates you
• It wastes your time

How to tackle this problem?

• Don’t give up
  Rather than considering your one failure as an indication that you can’t do this thing that you have decided to do, consider it a fluke. If you keep a habit tracker, cross out that day and continue your path.
  
• Don’t go back to zero
  One thing that motivates me is a good, clean strike. I love seeing that array of green arrows. But when you mess up, don’t start from zero. Keep counting: 1,2,3,4,5,6,X,7,8,9…
  
• Don’t beat yourself up
  It simply won’t serve you to sit and wallow about the day you missed. It will likely depress you and make it harder for you to keep going. Everybody makes mistakes.
  
• Figure out the reason why it happened, and make provisions for it in the future
  Sometimes life just happens, and there’s nothing to do about it. We just have to accept it. Other times, some prevention could have helped maintain our habit. Think back to the day you missed, and why you missed it.
  A few common reasons are:
  • Lack of motivation
  
  
  • Lack of time
  
  
  • Lack of energy
  
  
  • Forgetfulness
  
  It can be simple to provide for those days when you might miss if you prepare ahead of time.
  • Make a playlist that motivates you.
  
  
  • Surround yourself with reminders of your goal.
  
  
  • Think of an alternative way to schedule your habit so it takes less time.
  
  
  • Make a better and more consistent sleeping schedule.
  
  
  • Put an alarm.
  
  There are plenty more reasons you might miss a day, but there are so many creative solutions if you think hard enough.
• Be flexible but have a plan.
  Give yourself some room to make mistakes but try to schedule some time (and alternative to complete your habit).
  
• Reward yourself.
  We respond well to rewards, and it can give us something to look forward to as we do that last set of squats.

Example

I have been trying to work out consistently, and I plan to work out at least five days a week. I often work out six days a week when I have the time. I try to get all five of my workouts during the work week, and if something comes up, I can always make up for it by doing it on the weekend.
I also make provisions for energy. If I don’t feel like working out, then I do a stretching routine and count it as a workout. This helps me keep the momentum going.