Let’s talk about consistency—specifically how it plays a crucial role in building habits. We all know consistency can be tough, and that’s often where habits fall apart.
One big reason men struggle with consistency is taking on too much too fast. When things get overwhelming or exhausting, your body and mind naturally push back, saying, “No, I don’t want to do this.” If you give in, you break the pattern, lose momentum, and ultimately lose consistency in building that habit.
A perfect example of this is exercise. Like today, I do this walk up a steep hill every day. Normally, I hit it in the morning, but today, I had early coaching sessions that threw off my schedule. It’s almost 100 degrees out now, so it’s not ideal, but here’s the thing—when your usual time gets disrupted, don’t let yourself off the hook. Find another time in the day to get it done. The key is not giving yourself excuses. Life happens, but if you’ve planned to do something, stick to it. Find an alternate time.
Speaking of time, one way to build consistency is to plan ahead. Put it on your calendar. Block out that time and set alarms or notifications to remind you. If it’s a new habit you’re trying to establish, you’ll need that extra nudge to make it happen.
Another tip—tie your new habit to something you’re already doing. If it’s something you do daily, weekly, or even a few times a week, link your new habit to that. For example, do it right before or after, and it becomes part of your routine.
Now, let’s talk about the danger of overdoing it. I tweaked my glute earlier today during coaching, and I had to walk up this hill—which is all glute work. It was hot, my body hurt, and I was coming up with all sorts of excuses to skip the walk. But that’s not the approach we want.
We all have off days, days when our energy is low, or we don’t feel like we’re on our game. On those days, you just adjust. Maybe you don’t push as hard, or you take it slower. Normally, I walk up this hill pretty fast, but today, with the heat and my sore glute, I just told myself, “I’ll do it, but at a slower pace.” And I did. I still got up the hill, and it felt great.
It reminded me of my old gym routine. In the winter, it’s cold, and getting out of bed to hit the gym seems like the worst idea. So, I made a deal with myself: I didn’t have to work out if I didn’t feel like it, but I had to at least get dressed, get in the car, and drive to the gym. I could decide once I got to the door whether to go in or go home.
What happened? By the time I got to the gym, I felt more awake, saw the energy around me, and decided, “I can do this.” I went in, got my workout done, and felt great afterward.
The point is, you don’t want to break your momentum. Keep the habit alive, even if you adjust the intensity, pace, or timing. You’ll thank yourself later for staying consistent. I know I’m going to feel great after finishing this hill walk, even though it was tough today.
Alright men, that’s it for now. Check out the view! Can’t quite capture it on camera, but it’s incredible. One more perk of staying consistent—I get to soak in this beauty every day.
I’m Todd with Empowered Man Coaching. Have a great day, and keep pushing! Ciao.
Author: Todd Gorishek
Todd is a certified Men’s Life Coach, an entrepreneur, a licensed healthcare professional, a husband, a father, and a world traveler. His mission is to co-create a strong and compassionate world by facilitating transformation through understanding, trust, and empowerment.
He received his professional Life Coaching education from Newfield Network, a certified Life Coach training school, and is a member of the International Coach Federation.