A lot of the time when I'm trying to accomplish an extended goal of some sort—like losing weight—it becomes a sprint.
I'm really motivated at the beginning, I just want to lose as much as possible in the shortest amount of time.
Fitness gurus and weight-loss experts are adamantly against this strategy, and it makes sense. Usually because of the speed in which the weight is lost, it becomes that much easier to gain it back.
In order to keep weight off, there has to be a longer, more consistent, sustainable strategy. You'll lose weight slower, but it'll be easier to stay at the new weight.
When we play the long game instead, a lot of things in life become more beneficial and attainable.
Weight loss, investing, kicking bad habits, finishing big projects—these all become easier to sustain and profit from in the longterm if we just put in a little work over and over.
Consistency is a key factor to many success stories. In some cases, it is the key. Compounded work, over time, can create results down the road that we couldn't imagine initially.
I think about times in my life that I didn't stay with something long enough to reap the real benefits and I think, “Man, how good would I be at that if I never stopped?”
You can do it with anything. Do you want to read a certain amount of books this year? Do you want to achieve a better mile time? Do you want to learn to cook?
It's pretty amazing to think that we can just get better—at anything—if we put in consistent time.
Consistency doesn't have rigid boundaries either. Maybe once a month, maybe daily or weekly.
The key is to keep doing the thing over and over. Whatever it is.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”