By Joan Courtney, C.Ht., Unstuck Living

Are we alike? I feel energetic when I add a new exercise routine to my morning but lose steam after a while. Start a project but abandon it before it’s finished. Although I focus on what I’m doing, laziness or lack of willpower creeps in and drains my enthusiasm. Makes me feel like it’s a burden. And there I am, lost in the weeds.

Before: Every morning, I exercised before I walked. Squats. Pushups. Leg lifts. The works. Then, out for a walk. A 4:30 wake-up was just fine. I rolled out of bed, ready to go. It didn’t matter if it was dark outside or bright sunshine. I was up and ready to move.

Then wham! Derailed by a series of early morning meetings.

After: I tried to go back to my regular schedule. 4:30 a.m. came and went. I lifted one eyelid to check the time. Didn’t even feel guilty about still being cozy in bed. Sure, I got up to walk the dog around 5:30, but that didn’t help my lack of enthusiasm for a good workout.

Then I remembered the benefits of working out. My back didn’t hurt when I was at the computer. I had more energy. Improved balance. Felt better. I was proud of myself for sticking to my schedule. And most of all, I knew if I got up early in the morning, my brain was still asleep. I could finish my routine before it even woke up. (Works every time). I was back on track.

Jack up your enthusiasm?

Everything in life takes work, time, and effort. Short bursts of enthusiasm won’t carry you through to the end. But what to do when interest, attention, and focus wane? Here are some tips.

• Set your intention. Make it a top priority and figure out a schedule that works for you. In my case, it was getting up first thing. (No excuses).

• Celebrate the little victories. There was a time when I was a couch potato. Cholesterol levels were through the roof, and pants were tight as I gained weight. The turning point was when my doctor recommended Lipitor. Nope. A quarter-mile hill next to the house beckoned, and I started walking. That first climb was a 60-minute struggle, with four long pauses as I went up. And I decided that anything less than an hour was a victory. The next day, I celebrated 59 minutes. That was 12 or 13 years ago, and now the Toot and I take a morning constitutional of about three miles. I’m on a roll.

• Once you decide on a goal, stick with it. Even after you lose enthusiasm, keep your eye on the prize. Want to go on a 20-mile hike? Start small, then work up to it. Even if you don’t feel focused on a single day, the positive will carry you to the end.

• Remind yourself of the benefits. Decided to enjoy nature more? Reflect on the beauty of the scenery as you walk your path. Want to finish clearing out your storage unit? Picture this: space clean and empty. You’ll have a unit to be proud of in no time. Live unstuck.

Having over 35 years of experience, Joan Courtney, C.Ht., is a clinical hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner. Writing for Outdoors Southwest and other publications on the mountain, she also ghostwrites bi-weekly posts for Lil’ Toot, the Canine Executive Officer of Unstuck Living.