Where Are You Going to Be in a Year?

Whether you're just starting to work out in the gym, getting rid of a bad habit, or starting a new stressful job, we all need motivation. In the last year, I've started numerous projects, and most of them I don't finish. Why? Because of my lack of motivation and overall desire to keep going with something. I had a fresh idea in my head and I was so ready to start executing it, so I quickly began. Each project I started off strong like an athlete sprinting when they begin their mile, but then I would reach the middle of this project and all of that desire I had was washed up. Before, I didn't know the reason why I didn't want to keep going, but not too long ago I've found the reason. I've found why I wasn't motivated and not giving myself that necessary push, and that what was holding me back and leaving me in the same space every time I quit.

I needed to find my why

It may sound sappy or like something you would hear in one of those motivational YouTube videos, but when starting anything, you need to find your why, the reason you're starting, so you can remind yourself later on when your are doubting yourself and thinking of quitting. When I started my now very dead YouTube channel, I had no significant reason for it besides I wanted a following on social media. When no one watched my videos and I realized I wasn't passionate about them, I didn't have a reason to continue, leading me to quit and delete my channel. Now because I didn't truly want to be a personality on YouTube, quitting did help me find what I truly liked doing, and I am thankful that I stopped, but if I had a true reason to keep going, who knows, I might have become an Emma Chamberlain. My point is don't start something just to start it, have a legitimate reason for doing it; heck, maybe have three and when you feel like you're about to quit, ask yourself why you started.

Another question to ask yourself

The number one question I ask myself these days when I'm about to give up is: Where am I going to be in a year if I keep on going? I think this question best applies to weight loss or any journey that one is starting to change their life. We start these journeys to improve our lives, and often it might be right when you begin when you think about quitting because you didn't expect it to be this hard, but before you exit the gym and go home to Netflix, if you push through and keep going, imagine where you could be in a year. I believe another reason some of us are not motivated is because we compare ourselves to others and base our goals off of other people's lives. You shouldn't be looking at someone else's life to be your outcome, and that's what I think is the problem with social media. When you're on a weight loss journey, don't look at the people on Instagram and give up because you thin your body will never look like theirs; instead, look at yourself and how far you come and how much you've changed. For example, I'm planning on writing a Vocal article everyday, and I know I may not get any money, but what keeping me going is where I could be in the future if I continue.

Things to have for motivation

If you're still lacking motivation and the only way you'll be able to get some is by buying or doing stuff on your phone, these are for you:

1. Planner (I prefer a happy planner)

2. Bullet journal

3. Calendar

4. Using the alarms on your phone

5. Reminders on your phone