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How can I stay motivated to follow it? · Wellbeing Solutions - Ask A Counsellor

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  SPEAKER_00: Staying motivated to follow a daily structure is genuinely hard, especially during or after a life transition.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: When so much around you has changed, getting yourself to stick to a routine can feel forced or even pointless, and that feeling is really common, as motivation doesn't always show up first, and sometimes the action has to come before the feeling catches up.
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  SPEAKER_00: Now when motivation feels low and you're staring at your day not knowing where to start, try asking yourself one simple question.
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  SPEAKER_00: What is the smallest possible thing I can do right now?
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  SPEAKER_00: Not the whole routine, just one thing, maybe getting up, making a drink, opening the curtains, as that one small action creates momentum.
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  SPEAKER_00: And once you're moving even a little bit, it becomes easier to keep going.
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  SPEAKER_00: As you don't need to feel motivated to start, you just need to start.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: Now motivation tends to follow action, not the other way around.
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  SPEAKER_00: So most people wait to feel ready or inspired before they follow their routine, but that feeling often only shows up after you've already done something.
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  SPEAKER_00: So it also helps to connect your routine to how you want to feel, not just what you want to do.
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  SPEAKER_00: So instead of telling yourself I need to follow my structure today, try asking how do I want to feel by the end of the day.
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  SPEAKER_00: Such as more settled, less chaotic, or more like yourself.
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  SPEAKER_00: And let that be the pull rather than a list of tasks you feel you have to get through.
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  SPEAKER_00: And when you miss a day, because you will at some point, that isn't failure.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's just being human and the goal is to come back to it, not to do it perfectly.
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  SPEAKER_00: Now a few things that can make it easy to say motivate on a day-to-day is keeping your routine visible.
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  SPEAKER_00: Write it down somewhere you will actually see it, whether that's on your phone, a notepad, or a whiteboard.
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  SPEAKER_00: Make it feel like yours and not something that's just been imposed on you.
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  SPEAKER_00: And giving yourself options within the structure.
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  SPEAKER_00: So if your routine includes movement but you're exhausted, then a 10-minute walk counts.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: Flexibility keeps you in it for longer, and if possible, tell someone about it, as accountability from someone you trust can make a real difference when your own motivation dips.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: Now if you are finding it really hard to follow any kind of structure most days and it is affecting your sleep, your work or your relationships, it might be worth speaking to your GP.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: As they can help check if there's anything else going on, whether that is low mood, anxiety or burnout, and help point you in the right direction.
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  SPEAKER_00: Also, a therapist can help you work through why staying motivated feels so difficult, especially if it is tied to a bigger life change.
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  SPEAKER_00: As you do not have to be in crisis to reach out for that kind of support.
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  SPEAKER_00: And the app has further resources to support you with rebuilding daily structure, motivation, and managing life transitions for you to have a look at when you're ready.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: And if you are thinking about harming yourself and feeling safe, then please seek urgent help by contacting your local emergency number or a crisis helpline.