4 Steps To Get Back Into Your Groove

Everyone has been there. You've been following your healthy diet for a few weeks, but then you decided to binge-eat a bunch of junk over the weekend. You say to yourself, "I deserve it. I've been so good." You promised yourself you would start working out more, so you decided to hit the gym after work every day for a week. You were able to do it for two days, but it became difficult to get off the couch, mainly because things have been hectic at work. 

You plan for your future and get excited about all your career plans. Then you realized you wouldn't be able to do it because your everyday responsibilities are getting in your way. 

You are scared to return to any of your plans. 

You became scared because if only your habit tracker could speak, it will tell you how much of a quitter you are. 

Everyone has been there. But as often as it feels like you've failed yourself, you will realize something important about your life. 

All the small things that get in the way does not mean you're a failure. In truth, these minor setbacks make you human. Don't ever think that the most successful people never slip up, because they do.

What separates those who ultimately succeed from those who continually fail is their willpower. They keep themselves motivated to the best of their abilities. They teach themselves to get back on track as quickly as they can. 

There will always be times when it seems as if it is nearly impossible to stick to your routine and meet the expectations you have set for yourself. However, you don't need superhuman qualities to make it happen. 

Instead, you need to follow strategies to help you get back on track. 

What Pulls You Off Track

How do you get your life back together? The first step is to understand what got you off the track in the first place. What made you stop doing what you were doing? Here are some scenarios that you might relate to:

A project got sidetracked

You've been working on a project for a couple of months, and then suddenly you got stuck. You were too focused on learning something new, and then you got distracted. You got disappointed because a part of the project did not turn out as planned. 

Your failures made you want to quit. But what will happen if you stop? 

You gave in to binge eating

You promised yourself you would try to eat healthily, but you haven't been doing so. You have tried to get back on track several times, but you found your attempts unsuccessful. 

Is this the sign? Should you just quit altogether?

You lost your focus

In the last few months, you have been so focused on your goal. It got you to meditate and to think about the purpose of what you were doing. 

But for a variety of reasons, it seems you have lost all your focus. You haven't given up, but you are on the brink. 

If you've found yourself in any of these situations, you may be feeling discouraged. How do you get yourself back on track? Do not fret. You will get there. 

Tips To Get Back On Track

Are you wondering how to get your life in order? Bounce back right now with any of these strategies:

Make your habits a part of your schedule

The habits that you want to keep should be a part of your life. How do you make this happen? You actually have two options:

First, you can put it on your calendar. If you want your workday to start at 9 a.m. every morning, then put that in your schedule. Let it remind you that you need to get up at least 30 minutes before 9 to prepare yourself for work. 

Second, your habits should be tied to your behavior or into a particular task. Some people call this habit stacking. For example, if you want to start flossing your teeth more often, tie it into a habit you already have, like brushing your teeth every night. Getting more specific makes the task real. Therefore, the task itself is the reminder in case you ever slip up. 

Always stick to what needs to be done

Missing your something on your to-do list does not have the biggest impact on your life. Rather, it is how you react to it. If you miss a workout routine, don't think it is the end of it. You can always go back on your feet and get yourself moving. 

• If you can, stick to your schedule, even in the smallest ways possible. 
• If you don't have thirty minutes for a workout because you had to work late, do squats for five minutes instead. 
• If you don't have the time to finish a book, read a few pages every day to get yourself going. 
• If you don't have the time to do yoga, practice meditative breathing for five minutes. 
• If you don't have the luxury to go on a vacation, give yourself a mini-break. Stop and take a pause. Enjoy the moment. 

Individually, all these small things may seem insignificant. However, each little impact makes a difference. Collectively, they help you stick to the schedule and carry on to achieve long-term success. 

Be with someone who expects nothing less from you

When you are surrounded by people who expect you to be in your best form possible, you have no choice but to show up. Surround yourself with people who will push you to be your best self. 

The good news is that you don't have to be a part of a team to make things work. Whether it is friends, family, colleagues, or any random stranger you meet at the gym, merely knowing that you have people who have expectations of you should be enough reason for you to show up. 

Quit wasting your time looking for another good excuse to bail out. 

Tell yourself, "I can work with this."

It is rare to find yourself in a circumstance where you fail and not get the chance to get back up. So quit thinking about quitting and simply start moving.