Have you ever fallen off track and struggled to get going again?
Whether it’s your fitness, food or your finances, chances are you’ve probably fallen off track somewhere along the way.
Charlie Munger had a famous financial quote: The first rule of compounding is to never interrupt it unnecessarily. He knew that breaking momentum is a dangerous game.
You’ve heard it before…objects in motion tend to stay in motion. Objects at rest tend to stay at rest. We know it’s the Start that Stops most people. This post is about helping you get back on track.
Mindset Matters
One of the most common pitfalls in developing consistency with anything is the “all or nothing” mindset.
The all or nothing mindset is thinking that if you can’t do something perfectly, it’s not worth doing at all.
This mindset often results in extreme behavior: either you’re working out every day and eating perfectly, or you’re doing nothing at all. When you really want to make progress, setbacks can be especially frustrating and open the way for emotional decisions. Rationally, you know that getting back on track gets you closer to your goal than quitting.
Adopting a growth mindset helps you see challenges as feedback not failure. If something knocked you off track, how could you handle it differently next time?
What could you do to avoid this problem in the future?
Everyone Stumbles or Falls Off Track
I’ve yet to meet the person who worked towards and accomplished a meaningful goal without incurring some type of setback. At some point, everyone stumbles or falls off track.
Whether it’s a busy work schedule, family commitments, unforeseen events, setbacks are a natural part of the journey.
Years ago, I was told that how you handle setbacks is more revealing about your character than how you handle success. This is the reason why people love movies like Rocky; you identify with the struggle and you cheer for the comeback.
Is there someone you admire who had to overcome adversity? What did they do to get back on track?
Take on their persona and ask yourself what they would do…get in character to get back on track!
How To Get Back On Track…Faster
The quicker you can get back on track after a setback, the better. Regain your momentum before it swings in the other direction. Here are three tips to help you get back on track:
- The Toothbrush Rule: If you forgot to brush your teeth this morning, would you wait until Monday to start again? Hopefully you answered no and immediately thought that you would brush your teeth at the very next opportunity.
You might even buy a toothbrush on your lunch break. Apply the Toothbrush Rule to your fitness, food and your finances…when is the very next opportunity to get the plaque off your progress? - Never Miss Twice: At some point, schedule interruptions are likely for busy professionals. The concept of Never Miss Twice helps you get back on track immediately after your momentum is challenged.
Unplanned cheat meal because you were invited out for pizza?
Don’t eat consecutive unhealthy meals.
Missed a morning workout because you stayed up late watching NetFlix?
Schedule an afternoon session or adjust your rest day. Don’t miss consecutive workouts.
This concept keeps you moving forward and momentum in your favor. - Standards Over Feelings: What is the action that needs to be repeated consistently to move you closer to your goals?
It could be 3 workouts per week, prepping your meals on Sunday or saving 10% of your paycheck.
Nobody “feels like” doing those things consistently. Standards Over Feelings means making the conscious decision to live up to a standard and not letting your feelings dictate your actions.
Conclusion
Getting back on track is all about your mindset and resilience. By avoiding the all or nothing mindset, accepting that setbacks are normal, and taking proactive steps to get back on track, you can develop consistency and harness the power of momentum.
Remember, the goal is progress not perfection. At some point, you’re going to veer off course.
The trick is learning how to get back on track faster.