Even the most disciplined people find times in their lives where they drift away from their goals. Life is consistently inconsistent, and it’s those people who catch themselves before they drift too far off course that excel and achieve their goals. I especially notice this when it comes to health and wellness.
Over the course of my adult life, I’ve participated in several 5k and half-marathon races. During the training seasons for those events, I have found myself laser focused on my goals and motivated each day to accomplish them. But in the absence of an impending race, I become inconsistent. Runs turn to walks, and workout intensity drops to a minimum, and sometimes nothing at all. In today’s fast-paced world, with the added challenges of remote work and digital distractions, maintaining focus on our goals has become even more crucial.
High performing athletes have an off-season, but it doesn’t mean being “off” from training. And because how we fuel our bodies plays a large part in overall health, I’m also mindful of what I eat (physically and spiritually). I generally eat healthy, but all I need is a birthday, vacation, or festive moment to throw caution to the wind. And in the summer, all of the above happen in a matter of a month. June babies rock!
In the post-pandemic era, many of us have experienced significant shifts in our routines and priorities. The blurring of work-life boundaries and increased screen time have made it even more challenging to maintain healthy habits and stay focused on our goals.
Another place I see the drift effect is in my home office. Even the best systems require you to stick with them consistently. Letting papers pile up and not putting things where they belong will destroy any semblance of organization. Overflowing mailboxes, unpacked suitcases, out of order desks can all rob you of focus and productivity. This is especially true now that many of us are working from home more frequently, where the lines between personal and professional spaces are often blurred.
So as I’m working to restore my spiritual, physical, and workplace discipline (again!), I’m reminded of a story my pastor recently shared about being out on a lake fishing. He paused to fish and later looked up and realized the boat had drifted far from where it was originally. As I reflected on that example, I thought about the principles I’ve learned along the way with some realities of life.
There are 3 important lessons to take heed of when sticking to your goals:
1. Drop your anchor, it will hold you steady – Ultimately, you want to prevent drift from occurring, and this requires an anchor. You need your consistent days to far outnumber our inconsistent ones. To do this, you have to establish habits that focus on what’s important, that keep you inline with your purpose. Exercising daily, eating a healthy, balanced diet and finishing important tasks on time will prevent the drift. Having purpose-driven goals, a rooted faith, and daily discipline will keep you from drifting from your goals. Consider using habit-tracking apps or setting regular reminders to keep yourself accountable – make technology work for you, not the other way round!
2. Even in a boat, a little goes a long way – Working your plan requires you to take small steps daily. These tiny victories add up and keep you from having to fight your way back. The struggle comes during extremely busy seasons when there are limitations on your time. The key here is to put in a little bit each day, preventing you from having to start all over. Exercise minimally (but keep that body moving), maintain moderation in eating even while on vacation, connect with God while away from your place of worship, and create simple on-the-go organizing steps that reduce clutter.
With the rise of microlearning and bite-sized content, consider breaking down your goals into smaller, more manageable tasks that can be accomplished in short bursts throughout the day. As long as you’re paddling your boat a little bit each day, you won’t drift too far of course.
3. You can’t control the water, only the boat – There are times when your routine is disrupted and you can’t focus on your goals. This could be because of a vacation (a planned disruption), or a family medical emergency (an unplanned disruption). In recent years, we’ve all experienced unprecedented disruptions due to global events, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and resilience. Regardless of the cause of the pause, give yourself grace, commit to a restart day, and adjust your plan. Be grateful for muscle memory, go on a cleanse, and refile those loose papers. In reality, some days we can’t paddle because we have to fish. When that happens, drop your oars, and paddle as hard as you can. And as long as those gaps aren’t too far apart, you won’t have to paddle back too far.
Excellence is a daily practice, and successful people understand that. Focus on your goals, establish strong habits, and stay the course. But don’t let go of grace, because remember, drift happens!
Now, let’s consider three actionable steps you can take to apply these lessons in your life:
1. Implement a weekly review: Set aside time each week to assess your progress towards your goals. Use this time to identify areas where you might be drifting and make necessary adjustments. This regular check-in will help you stay anchored to your purpose and prevent significant drift.
2. Create a “minimum viable day” plan: Define the bare minimum actions you need to take each day to maintain momentum towards your goals. This could include a 10-minute workout, reading a few pages of a book, or spending 5 minutes on a important project. By having this plan, you ensure that even on your busiest days, you’re still making progress.
3. Build a support network: Share your goals with trusted friends, family members, or a mentor. Regular check-ins with your support network can provide accountability, encouragement, and valuable perspective when you face challenges or feel yourself drifting off course.
By incorporating these actions into your routine, you’ll be better equipped to navigate life’s inconsistencies and stay committed to your goals, even when drift happens.
