Get Unstuck: 4 Steps to Create Momentum and Achieve Your Dreams
Inertia (noun in·er·tia i-ˈnər-shə, -shē-ə): a property of matter by which it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the same straight line unless acted upon by some external force
Inertia. It's not just a scientific term. It's a real force in our lives, keeping us still when we want to move and stuck on a path even if it's not the right one. In simple terms, inertia means bodies in motion tend to stay in motion, and bodies at rest tend to remain at rest until they are acted upon by something external. Our bodies are a literal example. If we do not put ourselves in motion, we will stay still. Think of it as your personal inertia.
We've all been there, facing that feeling of inertia. But what if you could harness that same force to push yourself forward? What if you could turn personal inertia into momentum for success? How can we get moving and stay moving in the right direction? Here are four things you can do to help you keep moving forward.
Build routines
Having a routine you can follow as soon as your alarm goes off each morning is one of the best ways to get yourself moving. Refine your habits or routines over time, but start with the simple motions of what you know you need to do. Identify the time you want to get up each day. Make it the same time every day. Capture the first few motions you always take, then identify the next things you will do. This will give you a target to achieve and help you start your day consistently.
Review your goals
Make time to review your goals at least once a week. Build your actions into your weekly plan to ensure your motion is in the right direction. Doing this at least once a week will ensure that you are never far off course. Reviewing your goals weekly keeps you on the path you want to be on.
Inertia not only keeps bodies in motion but also causes bodies to follow the same path until they are acted upon.
Be aware of external forces
Watch for potential obstacles or hazards ahead of you. You can continue moving forward, but if something you don’t see hits you, it becomes an external force that changes your direction. This can cause you to lose control of where you are headed, and at a minimum, be a distraction that breaks your momentum. While it is impossible to anticipate or see everything approaching you, keeping your head up and looking around will limit those.
One way to reduce the impact of these external forces is to anticipate them before they arrive and plan for them. A part of planning is asking yourself, what could get in the way? How will I deal with that if it does happen? Time constraints, shifting priorities, or energy dips are all external forces that can impact you. They don’t have to derail you if you’ve already identified them and built margin around them. This kind of forward thinking strengthens momentum instead of breaking it. In time, this feels less like a reaction and more of an adjustment with intention. The more often you take a moment to scan ahead, the fewer surprises you’ll face. This will help keep moving you forward.
Reflect on your accomplishments
It is always a good idea to check the rearview mirror occasionally as well. Make time to look at where you’ve come from. These are great opportunities to reflect on the positive actions and build on them for the future. It is also a way to learn from the stumbles along the way. Making minor course corrections along the way is much easier than realizing you have a lot of backtracking to do to get back on the path you wanted to be on. Having a good sense of what got you to where you are will always help clarify your view. Celebrate your successes. Make time to feel good about where you have come from and reinforce where you are going.
Your initial motion does not have to be big. It begins the process from which to build on. Don’t convince yourself that the idea of thinking about motion is motion. It is not. Take action on building routines, setting goals, and reviewing them. Remain aware of outside forces that may knock you off course and celebrate your successes along the way. Build your momentum and allow your personal inertia to catapult you forward.
What steps will you take to get your personal inertia underway?
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