I Despise Being Consistent

I have always, always struggled with consistency. When I was in school, I hated having to do the same thing every day. I hated the regimented days and having the same thing for lunch (there is just no way to make a sandwich exciting).

I hated having to do this, and then this, and then the other thing. Everyday. I despised not having control over being able to do what I wanted when I wanted. I hated having to take a break, instead of being able to finish my work. I hated having to go outside instead of try and work out how to do the maths problems I was perpetually struggling with.

I have always despised the necessity of being consistent.

When I went on to tertiary study, I did most of my courses from home (distance study), and I grew to like having a timetable and knowing what I had to do each day. (I still hated sandwiches for lunch).

Now that I am not studying anymore but working on becoming the best person I can be, I have come to realise that being consistent isn’t about doing the same thing every day, and it’s not about having a set timetable to work your day around (unless that’s your jam, of course!).

Consistency is about getting up and getting your work done. It’s about putting in the hard yards, day in day out.

Some of that work may require you to do the same thing, or something near it every day. Much of it won’t. But consistency is about showing up every day and doing what needs to be done. Or so I’m told.

I still struggle with consistency, some days are much better for photography than others, and some days are better for reading than writing, and some days I feel like I have nothing to say and would much, much rather become a Stella-rito on the couch with a blanket and Netflix the day away.

Consistency means I must suck it up and get the must do’s done.

Here are some of the strategies I use to try to stay consistent.

For some reason, this works better for me, instead of having a routine.

When I sit down, I say to myself (in my head! Usually.) “Now I’m doing …. “and work until it’s done. If I’m writing a Medium story, I go until it’s done. If I’m engaging on social media, I spend about 15–30 mins, depending on the platform, and go until it’s done. If I’m working on my novel, I look at my goals and go until the day’s goals are done.

Alternatively, I’ll have a set time to do it, whether it’s done or not. Like for photography- If I’m on a shoot, I might only have a couple of hours, as I usually shoot outdoors. So, it becomes a case of go until times up.

This works for when I’ve got food in the oven, or somewhere to go at a set time as well.

Every day, first thing in the morning. By which I mean pre-dawn. I write in my journal and set myself up in my bullet journal for the day.

In my bullet journal, I don’t write down a big list of to-dos. I write down 3. The three most important things to be done today. That’s it.

If I get all 3 of those things done, that means I have had a successful, productive day.

Those are great days.

If I have things that must be done every single day, I develop a system. I find the quickest, most effective way to get it done, and that’s how I do it.

When I read my emails, I read the personal stuff first, answer anything that needs an answer. I then read anything from lists I’m subscribed to, and unsubscribe from any that aren’t interesting, informative, or relevant anymore. Then I read promotional stuff, emails from businesses, and shops I love and unsubscribe from any that I’m not interested in anymore.

By having a great system that works for you, allowing you to get it done effectively and efficiently, you are giving yourself the best chance at being consistent.

Set goals for being consistent, if you workout every day for a month give yourself a non-food reward. Or a food reward if that works better.

A reward doesn’t have to be big; it just must be enough to keep you going. If I post on Medium every day this week, I get to give myself a new nail polish. Next week I get a new lipstick!

Which is why I am writing this story after a long day grocery shopping. Ugh.

Being consistent doesn’t have to mean that you sit down at a set time every day and work on the thing until you die. It means put the work in every day in a way that suits you and your lifestyle.

What’s the hardest thing about being consistent for you? Let me know in the comments!

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