My 5-Sided System To Staying Inspired And Consistent

I woke up to a message from one of my very old connections on LinkedIn. Here’s the message:

Staying inspired and being consistent are so important, no matter what you’re working on. It is easy to get discouraged and give up, but it’s the people who keep going, even when things are tough, are the ones who ultimately succeed.

So what do you need to be inspired and stay consistent, no matter what? You need this 5-sided system that works like a charm every time!

#1 Find something you’re passionate about

This is perhaps the most important tip for staying consistent and inspired. When you’re passionate about something, it’s much easier to stay motivated and focused, even when things get tough.

Think about the things you enjoy doing in your free time. What are you naturally drawn to? What do you find yourself learning more about without even trying?

Consider your strengths and talents. What are you good at? What are you known for among your friends and family?

Think about the problems you want to solve in the world. What are you passionate about making a difference in?

Once you have a few ideas, start exploring them. Take classes, read books, and talk to people who are already involved in the things you’re interested in. The more you learn, the more likely you are to find something that you’re truly passionate about.

Once you’ve found your passion, don’t be afraid to pursue it wholeheartedly. Even if it’s not something that you can make a living from right away, find ways to incorporate it into your life. Volunteer your time, start a blog, or simply create art or music for your own enjoyment.

The more you engage with your passion, the more inspired and motivated you’ll feel.

Here are a few examples of how to find your passion:

• If you love to read, you could start a blog about books or become a librarian.
• If you’re passionate about cooking, you could start a food blog, write a cookbook, or teach cooking classes.
• If you love to travel, you could start a travel blog, become a travel agent, or write travel guides.
• If you’re passionate about helping others, you could volunteer your time to a cause you care about or start a nonprofit organization.

No matter what your interests are, there is something out there that you can be passionate about. The important thing is to keep exploring and finding what lights you up.

#2 Set realistic goals

Another important tip for staying consistent and inspired is to set realistic goals. When your goals are too ambitious, you’re setting yourself up for failure. This can lead to discouragement and a loss of motivation.

Instead, start by setting small, achievable goals. Once you’ve achieved those goals, you can set new, slightly more ambitious goals. This process will help you stay motivated and make steady progress towards your overall goals.

Here are a few tips for setting realistic goals:

• Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This is known as the SMART goal setting method.
• Break down large goals into smaller, more manageable steps. This will make them seem less daunting and more achievable.
• Be realistic about your time and resources. Don’t set goals that you won’t have time or resources to achieve.
• Don’t be afraid to adjust your goals as needed. If you find that your goals are too ambitious or unrealistic, don’t be afraid to adjust them. The important thing is to keep moving forward.

Here are a few examples of realistic goals:

• Instead of saying “I want to lose weight,” set a goal to lose 1 pound per week.
• Instead of saying “I want to write a book,” set a goal to write 1,000 words per day.
• Instead of saying “I want to start a business,” set a goal to develop a business plan within 3 months.

By setting realistic goals, you’re setting yourself up for success.

And finally, Celebrate your successes! When you achieve a goal, no matter how small it may seem, take the time to celebrate your success. This will help you stay motivated and keep moving forward.

#3 Create a routine

Having a routine can help you stay consistent and inspired in a few ways. First, it can help you stay on track and avoid distractions. When you have a routine, you know exactly what you need to do and when you need to do it. This can help you avoid procrastination and make the most of your time.

Second, a routine can help you build momentum. When you do the same things every day, it becomes easier and easier to do them. This can help you stay motivated and make progress towards your goals.

Third, a routine can help you create a sense of normalcy and stability. This can be especially helpful if you’re going through a difficult time in your life. When you have a routine, you know what to expect and you have something to rely on.

Here are a few tips for creating a routine:

• Start by identifying your goals. What do you want to achieve in your day, week, or month? Once you know your goals, you can start to create a routine that will help you achieve them.
• Schedule your most important tasks first. This is especially important for tasks that you tend to procrastinate on.
• Break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. This will make them seem less daunting and more achievable.
• Schedule breaks into your routine. It’s important to take breaks throughout the day to avoid burnout.
• Be flexible. Things don’t always go according to plan, so be prepared to adjust your routine as needed.

Here is an example of a routine for someone who is working on writing a book:

• Wake up at 7am
• Write for 2 hours
• Take a break for breakfast
• Work on other tasks for 2 hours
• Take a lunch break
• Write for 2 hours
• Exercise for 1 hour
• Have dinner
• Relax and unwind

This is just an example, of course. You can create a routine that works best for you and your schedule. The important thing is to be consistent and to stick to your routine as much as possible.

Here are a few additional tips for staying consistent with your routine:

• Tell someone about your routine. This will help you stay accountable.
• Track your progress. This will help you see how far you’ve come and stay motivated.
• Reward yourself for sticking to your routine. This will help you stay on track and make progress towards your goals.

Creating a routine is a great way to stay consistent and inspired.

#4 Don’t be afraid to fail

Everyone fails at some point. It’s part of the learning process. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and keep going.

When you’re afraid to fail, you’re more likely to play it safe and avoid taking risks. This can hold you back from achieving your goals.

Here are a few tips for not being afraid to fail:

• Change your mindset. Instead of seeing failure as something negative, see it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
• Focus on the process, not the outcome. Don’t worry about whether or not you’re going to succeed. Focus on putting in your best effort and enjoying the process.
• Celebrate your failures. When you fail, take the time to reflect on what you learned and how you can improve. Then, move on and try again.

Here are a few examples of how to learn from your failures:

• If you fail a test, figure out which topics you need to study more and develop a plan to improve your performance on the next test.
• If you get rejected from a job, ask for feedback from the interviewer and use that feedback to improve your resume and interview skills.
• If your business fails, learn from your mistakes and start again.

The most important thing is to not give up. Failure is a part of life. The people who succeed are the ones who learn from their failures and keep going.

#5 Find a support system

Having a support system is essential for staying consistent and inspired. Your support system can be made up of friends, family, mentors, or other people who are working towards similar goals.

Your support system can provide you with:

• Motivation. When you’re feeling discouraged, your support system can help you stay motivated and on track.
• Accountability. Your support system can help you stay accountable for your goals and actions.
• Advice and feedback. Your support system can offer you advice and feedback on your progress and help you identify areas where you can improve.
• Celebration. When you achieve a goal, your support system can celebrate your success with you.

Here are a few tips for finding a support system:

• Look within your existing network. Do you have any friends, family, or colleagues who are working towards similar goals? You can start by building a support system with the people you already know.
• Join a support group or community. There are many support groups and communities available for people of all interests and goals. You can find support groups online or in your local area.
• Find a mentor. A mentor can be someone who is more experienced than you and can offer you guidance and support. You can find mentors through professional organizations, networking events, or online.

Once you’ve found a support system, make sure to nurture your relationships. Be supportive of the other people in your support system and be open to receiving their support.

Let’s say you’re trying to lose weight. Your support system could include your friends, family, and a personal trainer. Your friends and family can provide you with motivation and accountability. Your personal trainer can offer you advice and feedback on your diet and exercise routine.

When you’re feeling discouraged, your support system can help you stay motivated. For example, if you have a setback, your friends and family can remind you of your goals and help you get back on track. Your personal trainer can help you identify areas where you can improve and develop a plan to improve your results.

When you achieve a goal, your support system can celebrate your success with you. This can help you stay motivated and keep moving forward.

All of these 5 aspects are equally important and should go hand in hand.

Now go apply this, and get results!