REBOUND: How to Recover Quickly

Dear You,

As humans, we strive for consistency and perfection in our habits and routines. But let's face it - life can be a master of disruptions. One day you're crushing your goals – your habits, and the next, there’s just this curveball that comes out of nowhere and just disrupts what you’ve been trying to build. Boom! There you are again at the beginning of the starting line.

Yes, life is full of unexpected twists and turns that can throw you off your carefully laid plans and routines.

Strategies for Rebounding Quickly

1. Stop the “All-or-Nothing” Cycle:

When we decide to start a new habit, change a habit, eat more healthy food, exercise more, read more, help out more, invest more – chances are that before long an emergency will pop up – some real valid ones. It's easy to fall into the all-or-nothing cycle. We either give up entirely or try to make up for lost time by overcompensating. ?Deep down, you and I aim for perfection without even realizing that we do. Deep down, you and I aim for perfection without even realizing that we do.

The secret is to not aim for perfection but to just show up – to just stick with it – one day at a time.

I’ve put in so many hours into my Spanish lessons but last week I fell really ill and had to be admitted into a hospital. I was all about practicing everyday even if it for just two minutes per day. I made this commitment over 120 days ago and I have kept it ever since. But been unhealthy at that point disrupted my goal of taking my lessons every day and I could not show up that particular day. The next day came, and I was feeling better health wise, I dedicated less than 5 minutes for my lesson – that way, I continued from where I stopped.

The ‘all or nothing’ approach can lead to burnout and decreased motivation.

Here are some reasons why the all-or-nothing approach can lead to burnout and decreased motivation:

- Unrealistic expectations: We set ourselves up for failure by expecting to be perfect.

- Overcompensation: We try to make up for lost time by doing too much, leading to exhaustion.

- Guilt and shame: We beat ourselves up over mistakes, making it harder to get back on track.

2. Never Miss Twice:

When forming a new habit, or moving towards a goal, following a simple yet powerful rule ‘never miss twice’ can help you grow steadily in your journey. For me, when life interrupts me, I get back on track as soon as possible.

James Clear in Atomic Habit said: The first mistake is never the one that ruins you. It is the spiral of repeated mistakes that follows. Missing once is an accident. Missing twice is the start of a new habit.

3. Why your Goals Matter?

Remind yourself why your goals are important to you.

Now that you are here at this point, take a pause and reflect on the goal you are currently pursuing, the new habit you are currently developing. Ask yourself as loudly as you can. "Why is this goal (mention the goal or habit) important to me?" Try to find your answer.

4. Start Small:

Think of it like getting back into exercise after a long break. You wouldn't try to run a marathon on your first day back, right? Start with a short walk or a few jumping jacks. Get your blood flowing, and then gradually increase your intensity. It's the same with getting back on track - start small and let your progress build?from?there! Stop trying to cram everything in at once. Don't try to make up for lost time - start with a small, manageable step. This really helps.

5. Surround yourself with supportive people who can help you stay on track.

You know I'll always talk about surrounding yourself with people. Honestly, you need all the help you can get. Ask someone you respect to hold you accountable.

By trying these out, you'll be better equipped to handle life's unexpected twists and turns and stay on track with your goals -- you'll be able to recover as quickly as you can when life throws you down. Don't forget that consistency is not about being perfect; it's about being?persistent.

Do you need help being consistent with your goal? Comment here. Someone might want to help out.

Would you love to help someone stay consistent today?

See you next time Beyond Horizons. Cheers to a fulfilling life.

Sincerely,

Glory Ize Isaiah

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