Do you struggle with consistency?
Want helpful tips on how to be more consistent?
Consistency is an important factor for growth. Whether you are a blogger, social media content creator, a youtuber or business owner, we all need to be consistent to achieve our goals.
The dictionary defines consistency as “steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc.”
Being consistent means that you are doing something regularly and sticking to a set of guidelines or rules.
Why do we struggle to be consistent?
First thing first, you are not alone in this!
An average business owner struggles with consistency and the feeling of not making progress.
I have had a long battle with consistency myself and it is something I still have to work on every day.
There are many reasons we struggle with consistency. Some of the major reasons include;
- Fear – If you fear failure, you might avoid being consistent because you think that if you try and fail, it would be a confirmation of your lack of ability.
- Anxiety – Being anxious about the future can also hold us back from doing what we must do to succeed. We might worry that we won’t be able to achieve our goals or that things won’t work out the way we want them to.
- Lack of Motivation – This is likely the most common reason people struggle with consistency. When you don’t feel motivated, it’s hard to find the energy and drive to do something regularly.
- Doing What you are not interested in – If you are always jumping on opportunities because they exist and not because you are interested in them, you will struggle with consistency.
- You focus on the results rather than the process – Everything we do, we do because we want a positive outcome. I mean, results are important, but the process matters the most. If you fixate your attention on the outcome way too much, you may find yourself doubting your ability to achieve them and ignoring all that you must do.
Some other reasons could be procrastination, laziness, distractions, forgetfulness or a combination of all these factors.
Importance of being consistent
One of the most important things in life is to be consistent; whether it’s in your personal relationships, your work, or your health.
When you’re consistent, people can count on you and know what to expect from you. They know that you’ll show up on time, that you’ll do what you say you’ll do, and that you’ll be the same person today as you were yesterday.
It’s especially significant in relationships because it’s how we build trust with others.
If we’re inconsistent, people don’t know what to expect from us, and it’s difficult to build a strong relationship.
Work is another area where consistency is essential. Your boss and your co-workers need to be able to rely on you to do your job and to do it well. If you’re not consistent, you may find yourself getting passed over for promotions or raises.
Finally, consistency is important for your health. If you’re trying to eat healthy, exercise regularly, or quit smoking, it’s essential to be consistent so that you can make lasting changes.
Consistency is important in all areas of life. It’s how we build trust with others, how we succeed at work, and how we improve our health.
How to be more consistent
Despite the aforementioned reasons for inconsistency, it is still possible to be consistent.
How?
I will discuss some of the key points that are helping me below;
Identify the reasons for your inconsistency
The first step to being more consistent is to identify the reasons you are struggling.
Once you know what is causing your inconsistency, you can work on fixing the issue.
How do you know what makes you inconsistent?
Here are some questions to ask yourself;
- Do you start off strong but then fizzle out after a few days or weeks?
- Do you have good intentions but find it hard to stick to them?
- Do you make excuses for not being consistent?
- Do you get easily distracted or sidetracked?
- Do you procrastinate a lot?
- Do you struggle with motivation?
The answers to these questions will help you understand why you are lacking consistency.
Actively fight off the reasons for your inconsistency
You make no progress if you do not accept to be the opposite of what is holding you back. Many times we know what we must do to become a better version of ourselves but refuse to put in the work.
You can start off with the questions above and tackle the agents accordingly.
If the major reason for your inconsistency is fear of failure, then you must tackle that shortcoming because if you do not eliminate your fear of failure, there’s little you can do to maintain a consistent work culture.
If you want to be consistent, you must attempt to push yourself to do the important things that determine your success and growth.
Set your priorities straight
Organize your goals according to their importance first then work on them one at a time.
If you want to create a new blog post, you must first research the topic you want to write about and do more bits before you write the contents.
Create a plan
This includes breaking down your goal into smaller steps or workable items.
Having a plan gives you a sense of direction and makes it easier to be consistent. When you know what you need to do and when you need to do it, it’s much easier to stick to a schedule.
Set realistic goals
Trying to achieve too much in a short period can be overwhelming and can lead to inconsistency. When setting your goals, make sure they are achievable and realistic.
If your goal is too big or unrealistic, you are setting yourself up for failure. Aim for something that is achievable and within your reach.
Start small
Take small steps to achieve your goals. For example, if your goal is to write a book, start by writing 500 words a day.
Trying to be consistent in everything at once is overwhelming and will only lead to failure. Instead, start with one small thing that you can commit to doing every day and build from there.
Create an effective routine
One thing that will help you be more consistent is working with a routine. Following an effective routine will help you adhere to your schedule that, in turn, will help you stay consistent.
Having a set routine will help you overcome distractions and be more consistent with your work, as you will know exactly what needs to be done and when.
When you are just starting with a routine, you’ll struggle, but it becomes easier with time. I mean, clearly we must be consistent at trying to be consistent.
Set reminders
If you forget or procrastinate tasks at hand, setting reminders will help you remember what you need to do and when. You can set reminders on your phone or any device you carry with you.
Find a role model
Find someone who is already doing what you want to do and learn from them. See how they stay consistent and try to mimic their habits.
You can read their books, listen to their podcasts, subscribe to their email newsletter or even follow them on social media.
Stay motivated
It’s easy to lose motivation when things get tough, but it’s important to remember why you’re doing something.
Stay focused on your goals and keep pushing yourself, even when it feels like you can’t do it.
Be patient
Progress takes time, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Trust that your consistency will pay off and be patient as you work towards your goals.
Persevere through setbacks
Setbacks are inevitable, but it’s how you deal with them that matters. Get back up and keep going, even when things are tough. Remember that consistency is the key to success.
Don’t be hard on yourself
Sometimes you may be forced to be too hard on yourself when you see what others are doing while you constantly battle with inconsistency.
You can not become consistent by being hard on yourself. It takes more than just getting mad at your shortcomings to become more consistent.
Rather than worry about how well others are doing, focus on fixing the reasons for your lack of consistency.
Understand that you are not alone
You are never alone. Reminding myself of the fact that it’s not just me makes it a lot easier to deal with. I get more energetic and strive to be more consistent.
A lot of successful people went through a phase of inconsistency, and you can learn from them.
How were they able to scale through?
What strategy worked for them?
Get inspired to do better and learn from those who have been there and out.
Conclusion
Consistency requires discipline and effort. You won’t always feel like taking those small steps, but if you’re committed to your goal, you’ll do it anyway.
There will be setbacks along the way, but don’t let them stop you. Get back up and keep going.
Most importantly, discover the reasons for your lack of consistency because it is all you need to tackle to get everything else working.
If all your attempts to to learn how to be more consistent fail, seek professional assistance and get the right help you need.
