How to Stay Consistent: The Simple Power of Written Plans

It's becoming a well-known anecdote and piece of advice from Arnold Schwarzenegger: "Don't Think, Just Get Moving".

Plenty of days, I don't feel like waking up early. I don't feel like lifting weights. There are a ton of pressing demands that I'd love to just get started on. I'm sore, I'm tired, and I don't feel a strong sense of direction.

That's when it's imperative not to think. You're more than likely to talk yourself out of doing the thing you really should be doing. To avoid thinking, you need to have a prewritten plan you can follow.

Right now, I lift weights four days per week and run three days. I have each day planned out, with a simple list of exercises written down that I can check off as I go through my routine. Being able to take this mental load off makes it infinitely more likely that I'll actually get it done.

The biggest barrier to showing up at the gym is lacking a plan and sense of direction. If I just wandered around from machine to machine, I wouldn't ever progress, and I'd be way more likely to bail before making any real gains.

A lot of things in life take years of consistency, and the only way to stay consistent is to be ready for those moments when motivation and inspiration are waning. So just write down what you want to do tomorrow.

Whether it's writing—plan what topic you will write about. An aspiring hobbyist musician? Write down the song you're going to practice. Want to get in better shape? Write down the exact exercises you want to train before you show up. Struggling to maintain your diet goals? Write down a meal plan in advance, stock your house with healthy staples, and plan on eating a lot of the same things every day.

The more you can take your feelings out of the moment, the more likely you are to make the choices positive choices. It's simple advice, but it's proven to actually make progress toward your goals.