8 Ways to build momentum
Momentum is a wonderful thing that many people find extremely challenging, personally, I love momentum. It provides me with feelings of fulfilment, a deep sense of purpose and achievement. It’s helped me overcome some pretty big challenges and has enabled me to achieve things I never thought I could.
By building momentum, in your professional and personal life, you’re creating a world of possibilities where you’re more productive and you go about your activities with more purpose and passion.
In my three decades of working with high achievers, combined with my own personal and professional development I’ve put together eight daily actions that’s been tried and tested and will help you build momentum and awaken the wellness warrior within, so you can walk steadily and confidently along the wellness wall.
I’ve ordered these in a way that works for me, I must move first thing in the morning to get my mind and body ready for the day. I understand not everyone works that way so make sure you order the activities in a way that works for you, practically, emotionally and physically.
Movement
Humans are designed to move and to resist moving in ways they hate. Forget about peer pressure or fashion or any other kind of “should do this or that….” approach that apparently works miracles for others. Find a movement routine you love. If you loathe the gym, please don’t go there! If nothing floats your boat right away, walk while you wait. Walking is an underrated but effective way to meet your daily movement quotient. Besides who knows what interesting alternatives might cross your path while you’re out and about.
Stillness
Find some quiet time, spend 5 – 15 completely silent minutes. If mediation appeals there are heaps of apps for programs like Smiling Mind, Headspace and Calm. You can also simply spend time outside in nature looking up, down and all around then focusing gently on the sensation of each breath moving in and out of your body.
Vision
Have a clear vision in your mind of what your ideal life looks like. Write this down as a statement that’s written in the positive as if it’s happening. Quietly visualise yourself living as this person. Revisit your vision daily, read your vision statement aloud. See yourself acting, interacting and feeling as they will.
Extend
Set yourself up for lifelong learning. Spend a minimum of 10 minutes per day reading or listening to a podcast, audio book, inspirational speech or talk.
Plan
Plan your day, begin by setting an intention. Perhaps it might something like ‘working quietly and calmly through my list’ or ‘being kind and patient with my kids and colleagues’ This will energise you and help to build momentum.
Act
Procrastination is the handbrake in building momentum. Work gently and patiently through your daily actions. Remember not to give yourself a hard time over anything that doesn’t get done. Simply reschedule it for the next day.
Fun – Find 5 for fun
We often get so caught up in the daily grind that we forget to have fun! To keep your mindset positive and your motivation alive you’ve got to find at least five minutes of fun. Whatever this means for you; a joke with a colleague, a private giggle at something you read or see, a game on your phone, an extra lap of the pool – just because you can, a single relished chocolate with your midday coffee. A small treat, a shared smile, an extra effort with no performance strings attached. Anything that energises you and acts a small but significant circuit breaker in the business of your busy day.
Gratitude
Our minds are naturally programmed to focus on the negative. The good news is we can change that! Be grateful and gracious, think of three things you’re grateful for on a daily basis. They don’t need to be big. Perhaps you’re grateful for the gift of sight, your strong running legs and lungs, the wind on your face or the smile from someone you saw in the street. Think about three things that went well in your day. Again, these might be starry or simple. A potentially difficult conversation that went smoothly and resolved a conflict, not having to queue for the supermarket checkout at the end of your busy working day, finding that important document you thought you’d lost.
If you’re keen to build motivation and momentum and are ready for a habit breaking, energy building challenge that helps you to be more accountable, more productive and inspire you to go the distance you can purchase my latest book The 30-day Momentum Maker Challenge here.
Or if you’d like me to come to your workplace to speak to your team on ways to build motivation and momentum please get in touch. For a limited time, I’m offering *complimentary momentum maker talks to businesses.
*Terms and conditions apply.
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