5 Strategies For Unstoppable Consistency (JAN 25 Newsletter)
- David Tilston
- Mar 31
- 4 min read
As we start a new year I want to provide you with some strategies that have proven to be incredibly effective for me, and those I have coached over the last 15 years.
No fads, no gimmicks ... just 5 simple, effective methods that can provide long term consistency if applied on a daily basis. But before this I will quote someone who's work ethic has inspired me for over 30 years ...
"Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” – Dwayne Johnson.
UNSTOPPABLE CONSISTENCY STRATEGY 1 = CREATE SPACE
No two things can occupy the same space at the same time and this applies to every aspect of life. Trying to add more activities to an already saturated schedule is only going to create more stress ... and we only have a finite amount of time and energy available in a given day.
So, before you add something new, remove something that no longer serves you.
One example - reduce meetings by 5 minutes and add in 5 minutes of movement.
UNSTOPPABLE CONSISTENCY STRATEGY 2 = NO PLAN B EQUALS NO PLAN
If you haven't got a back up plan ... you have no plan!
Anything in life that is dynamic in nature and involves many moving parts is going to be unpredictable and failing to plan for this will undoutedly lead to turmoil.
If you are unable to get to a gym = have equipment ready at home.
If you struggle to prepare healthy meals in the week = batch cook at the weekend.
Ideal circumstances do not exist and in order to remain consistent with anything this needs to be embraced. Over the last 20 years I have trained; in boiler rooms, out of the boot of my car, at parks, hotel rooms and even on planes.
The question was never IF but WHEN & HOW can it be done regardless of the circumstances. There are always going to be reasons not to do something, these are easy to find.
But if you truly want something - learn to adapt, get creative and become more resilient in the process.
UNSTOPPABLE CONSISTENCY STRATEGY 3 = THE 50% RULE
Many people overestimate what they can achieve in a week but underestimate what they can acheive in a year!
Whatever you think you can do in a week, HALF IT - this is now your baseline. Prove to yourself that you can maintain this for at least 2 months! Then once the habits have been formed you can start to build upon them. You can't build a strong house on weak foundations!
UNSTOPPABLE CONSISTENCY STRATEGY 4 = INPUTS VS OUTPUTS
Struggling to commit to becoming the person you want to be because you are unable to do the things you love? It could be down to one simple equation ... inputs vs outputs.
Output Examples;
Work, parent responsibilities, commuting, house work etcNow add up how much time you do things that charge you up, that you LOVE doing (notice I did not say "like" - "like" is mediocure, and I believe life is too short to settle for this).
Input Examples;Training, time with those you love, art, music, laughter etc.Now work out your ratio for the day = Outputs 15 hours : Inputs 1 hour = Ratios 15:1
Days will undoubtedly fluctuate and that is life, the most important factor to consider is your MOVING AVERAGE. Take the daily total and multiply it by a week or month, this will provide a clear representation of how your time is actually spent and in what direction you are heading.
The aim is not to make drastic changes but to seek sustainability by using rules one (create space), two (plan b) and three (the 50% rule). Everyones "ideal" ratio will be different BUT I have found that somewhere between 4:1 and 5:1 is a sustainable sweet spot.
UNSTOPPABLE CONSISTENCY STRATEGY 5 = EMBRACE DISCOMFORT
When do most people quit training or New Year's resolutions?
When the initial gains; slow down, plateau or stop.
Why is this? ... opposing forces! Think of a formula 1 car: to make it go 1 mph faster when it can already hit 230 mph requires signifiantly more time & money than making a standard road car go from 130 mph to 131 mph.This analogy also applies to us as humans when trying to learn a skill, run a faster 100m or lift a heavier weight.The better you get at something, the harder life pushes back. As you move closer to the limit the greater the opposing forces that start to act upon you, which is why people can spend decades trying to refine one discipline. Usain Bolt once said ...
“I trained 4 years to run 9 seconds, and people give up when they don't see results in 2 months”
... I believe this is where the real work is done. The process is no longer a linear superficial path that lacks true substance or ownership. It contains lessons that transcend the discipline and can be applied to any aspect of life; fortitude, resilience, trust in a process, dedication and determination.This year select something with no finish line, that you cannot master, that you become the apprentice of and do purely for the process itself.
5 strategies for unstoppable consistency is about providing clear simple strategies that you can apply for the long term, to set a foundation that remains regardless of life's commitmemnts.
Once you have got to grips with these and started to apply them to your life please let me know how you get on in the comments below. Wishing you all an incredible start to the year!" - DT
Commentaires