Have you ever set a goal or decided to work on a project, do something big, or start a new habit, but lost motivation along the way?
As much as we don’t like to admit it, we have all experienced making excuses at some point or another in our lives. Sometimes we make excuses to get out of things we don’t want to do for other people. But many times, we actually make excuses for things we WANT to do for ourselves.
We get caught up in laziness or procrastination, causing us to miss out on what we want to do.
Excuses will always be available to us. But do you want to let life pass you by in a whirl of excuses? If you struggle with putting things off to a later date, you have to start asking yourself, if not now, when?
Here are 5 tips to stop making excuses so that you can take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities that are in front of you.
How to Stop Making Excuses and Grab Life’s Opportunities
1. Stop dwelling on past failures. We all make mistakes; we are human after all. However, beating yourself up and focusing on the past just makes you feel worse and gives you an excuse to not try again. Instead of dwelling on a past failure, reflect on it and learn from your experience. When you do that, you can transform your past mistake into an invaluable learning opportunity!
2. Pick yourself up. Whenever you stumble off your path, get back on track. For example, let’s say you decided to go to the gym every day. Perhaps you accidentally sleep in one day and missed your workout. If that happens, it’s okay. Pick yourself up and get back to your habit the next day. Just because you stumble doesn’t mean you have to give up.
3. Stop comparing yourself. One of the biggest reasons to we stop ourselves from going after what we want is comparison. When you compare yourself to others, it’s easy to start feeling ‘not good enough’ and give up. However, that’s just another excuse! Everyone started somewhere, and with persistence and dedication, they reached the level they are at now. So don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Everyone has their own journey, and by comparing your journey to theirs is not just holding yourself back but it is also unfair to you. The only person you should be comparing yourself to is who you were yesterday.
4. Spend time with people who inspire you. As social creatures, we are extremely influenced by the people we spend time with. Consider what type of people you surround yourself with; do they make excuses, or do they create reasons? Do they wait around for life to pass them by, or do they grab the opportunities that life offers?
Surround yourself with people who face challenges with strength and take opportunities with courage. Let them inspire you!
5. Don’t overthink things. As human beings, we are blessed with our powerful minds, but our minds can also pose challenges if we don’t learn to be in control of it.
Whenever we have to do something that requires us stepping out of our comfort zones, it can be so easy to get caught up in our own thinking.
Should I do this or not? What are the pros and cons? Maybe it would be easy and comfortable if I just went to bed…
All these thoughts start arising and finally we just make up some to avoid going after what we actually want.
So, the next time you set a goal, don’t overthink it. Decide beforehand exactly what you will do and when. Be extremely specific so that your mind doesn’t get any chance to overthink and throw you off course. For example, you might decide to go to the gym at exactly 5 pm after work. Once work is over, don’t let yourself get distracted by thoughts. As soon as it is 5 pm, take action according to the decision you had made earlier and head to the gym. Or, make the decision that come hell or high water, you will get your workout in today. Even if it means doing it at home after you put your kids to bed. Be flexible, but consistent. Remember, it is not about having the time, it’s about making the time.
Making excuses is easy, but it keeps us away from success. If you want to achieve your goals, set healthy habits, and work towards creating a happier and healthier you, it’s important to learn how to grab each opportunity and fight excuses.
