Here are my top tips, which can apply to lots of things in life, not just diet and exercise:
1. Little & Often
Do even small amounts of exercises or make small changes that appear to be trivial but have a tremendous impact when done consistently over time. These actions usually don’t usually produce any immediate results (that’s why most people won’t do them) (exercise does give us an almost immediate feel good factor), but with time, they become the seeds of your future. These small insignificant daily tasks or changes are the key to improving your life. Don’t think all or nothing.
2. Be Consistent
Don’t worry about the numbers, just strive for consistency and the numbers will be there in the end. Just be consistent and you will yield great results. If you are consistent with the boring and monotonous you will have success. The fact is most people will not stick with the difficult and thus never succeed.
3. Have a Good Attitude.
Be positively on purpose. When we are positive our brains actually function better, make us more alert, engaged, free to create and it will lead to better productivity.
4. Be Committed For a Long Period Of Time.
People want instant results, but true success takes time, success takes the compound effect which kicks in after you repeat the same action over and over and over again. Success is more like a marathon than a sprint. You must be willing to do what most will not do with discipline and persistence.
5. Have Faith And A Burning Desire.
Everyone will be presented with problem and obstacles along their journey. When adversity hits this is what should keep us motivated to press forward. Successful people look at a problem and see opportunity.
Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out. For example, you have a week of social engagements, this doesn’t mean you have to indulge every night, make smart food choices. You didn’t get time to go to the gym – do 20 push-ups and 20 squat jumps in-between getting ready for work, or do a core workout and stretch before bed, or only use the stairs all day. Pick one pilates or yoga move you wish to master and just practice it for 5 minutes – something is better than nothing.
6. Be Willing To Pay The Price.
The price of neglect is far worse that the price of commitment. Be willing to get uncomfortable now or you will pay the ultimate price of neglect and be very uncomfortable later in life.
Don’t be one of those people that live in the past, saying ‘only if things had been different, I would be successful.’ Or in the future, ‘when this or that happens I will be happy/successful’. They completely ignore the present, which is all we really have.
7. Practice Integrity.
The key is what you do when no one is watching – it is doing the thing you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it in has left you. This can be difficult, but it really is the crux of integrity. I hear so many people get excited to make a change, yet, when the moment has gone so has their enthusiasm. Do what you say you will do until it becomes a habit.