How Do I Stay Consistent When Motivation Is Gone?

Short Answer

Understand that motivation is a feeling. It ebbs and flows, and it doesn’t change the fact that certain things need to get done every day. The real question is whether you’re doing what you need to do, to the best of your ability, every day, and stacking those days together. Get your daily checkboxes checked. That’s the focus.

What’s Wrong With Relying on Motivation?

Nothing, on the days it shows up. Getting fired up and having a great workout is awesome. It’s fun, and it’s something to look forward to. But feelings come and go. If your plan only works on the days you feel like it, you don’t have a plan.

What Replaces Motivation?

Discipline. Doing what needs to be done whether you feel like it or not. Motivation gets you started. Discipline gets you through the Tuesday when you’re tired, busy and not feeling it.

What Are the Daily Checkboxes?

The basics that move you forward, done to the best of your ability every day:

Hit your protein.
Train, or get your movement in.
Drink your water.
Track what you eat.
Get to bed on time.

Check them off, and the day is a win. Stack those days together, and the results take care of themselves.

Isn’t Talent Enough?

No. Understand that you are entitled to nothing. Talent paired with a lack of discipline, focus or attention to detail yields nothing. The guys who make real changes aren’t always the most gifted. They’re the ones who check the boxes on the days they don’t feel like it.

What I’d tell you: Motivation is a nice bonus. It isn’t the plan. Get your daily checkboxes checked to the best of your ability, and stack those days together.

Words You’ll Hear

Motivation: A feeling of wanting to do something. Useful when it’s there, but it comes and goes.
Discipline: Doing what needs to be done whether you feel like it or not.
Daily checkboxes: The handful of basics you do every day, no matter what. Check them off and the day is a win.