Bermudez said sharing goals with friends or making more public commitments, such as on social media, to stay accountable can be a helpful tool for some people.
Reframing the benefits of your goals can also be a powerful tool. If your goals are focused on exercise, but the physical and psychological effects aren’t enough to motivate you, reframe the time you spend exercising as, “Oh, this is my chance to listen to a podcast or listen to my favorite music.” . Or a chance to get outside,” Bermudez said. Conversely, to break a habit, “focus on the downside of the tempting behavior,” he said. Because that behavior looks less and less appealing.
Bermudez said it’s important to monitor whether the strategy you choose is working and be willing to try other strategies if it isn’t. In some cases, you may need to reevaluate your goals themselves.