Consistency: The Challenge of Remaining on Course

Habits matter, but we struggle to make some and break others.

It's usually easy to start something but along the way, something happens, and you can't keep up with what you started. What causes this? Is it a concern for you? How do you ensure you stay consistent?

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Being consistent means practicing something over and over again, in a regular manner, without giving up. It might be a good habit, such as physical exercise, or a deleterious practice, like betting. It is something close to an addiction.

Remaining consistent requires a high level of discipline at something. It also entails sacrificing one thing for another. For instance, consistently avoiding sugar means you are tempted to add sugar to your tea, but you endure tasteless tea. Eventually, it becomes normal to avoid sugar, and the tasteless tea becomes palatable.

One of the main reasons we fail at consistency is that we do not have a clear end goal for what we are practicing. It is said that if you do not know your destination, any route will take you there. Defining what you want to achieve helps you keep track of your progress, appreciate the gains you have achieved over time, and remind yourself of the remaining journey toward your goal.

Another reason one may struggle with remaining consistent is because of making unrealistic goals and expectations. Remember, the higher the expectations, the higher the disappointment when you fail to reach the goal. For instance, if you set to run 5 miles daily and you’ve never run even 3 miles, then you’re setting yourself up for frustration. You’d be better starting with 2 miles daily and then increasing the distance progressively.

Whatever the cause of your inconsistency, you must rise up and pick up the rhythm again. You are currently reading this article as my eight since I launched The Acing Scholar. I have published at least one post every week. With a 7-week streak, Substack stats show that I was in the top 29% of publishers who published weekly, consistently. May be these numbers show just what an uphill task it is to do something without breaking a pattern.

Where is all this leading to? This article is a reflection of my wins and struggles with remaining consistent. It is a reminder that we all struggle to stay on course. The article is an awakening that it is possible to stay on course, and you belong to the creme de la creme category if you are consistent in your field. Keep pushing even amidst shoves. Reflect on your achievements, whether big or small. Celebrate them as you set new goals.

It would be interesting to read your thoughts and comments about the issue of consistency, whether you’ve struggled with consistency, and the achievements you made when you stayed on course. Share your comments below.

The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong…