From Spark to Routine: Turning Motivation into Lasting Habits!

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The Secret to Consistency!

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” — Jim Ryun

This should be familiar because all of us go through it.

It’s January 1st, and you’re full of energy.

You’ve decided this is the year you’ll finally start working out regularly or, maybe write that book or, stick to a productive morning routine.

You put together your goals, get ready for that fresh start with motivation running all through your body..

But then days pass and you feel a loss of motivation.

You skip a workout here, forget a writing session there, and before you know it, you’re back to square one, wondering where all that enthusiasm went.

That sounds familiar. Isn’t it?

If so, you’re not alone. I too have been there, done that!

Do you know where the problem is.

It is not in finding motivation.

But it is in making it last.

While everybody talks about motivation, the truth is that motivation is fleeting.

It’s a spark that ignites the fire.

But it is habit that keeps it burning – healthy habits.

So how do you transform that initial motivation into a habit that sticks, even on the days when inspiration feels out of reach?

Over the years, I read numerous books, watched a lot of videos and finally built disciplined habits for myself.

The process was simple.

All you needed was to be a little organized.

These simple little changes that I did in order to build habits that I could sustain is something we will discuss in detail today.

Why Motivation Alone Isn’t Enough!

Motivation is unpredictable.

It’s that surge of energy that comes after you hear an inspiring talk, read a motivating book or, see someone else achieve a goal you want.

But while motivation is powerful, it’s also temporary.

The real magic happens when you don’t have to rely on that spark alone, but rather have a steady system that carries you forward even when the initial excitement wears off.

And this system is all about building habits that feel effortless over time.

Turning motivation into habits

Building sustainable habits is not difficult.

All you need is a little bit of discipline, some willingness and a plan

The first two are things that you will have to manage yourself

But so far as the plan is concerned, I can help you put one together.

Here’s a simple guide to turning motivation into habits you can maintain.

Start Small and Set Clear, Realistic Goals

When motivation strikes, the first thing you want to do is to go all in.

You set yourself a high goal of maybe writing a chapter every day or, running five miles right out of the gate.

But aiming too high too soon can lead to burnout.

Instead start small and build momentum.

Set a goal so achievable it almost feels easy.

Instead of writing a chapter, commit to writing just 50 words.

Instead of running five miles, start with a 10-minute walk or a short jog.

Why this works:

Starting small keeps you from overwhelming yourself.

With each small action, you’re reinforcing your ability to show up, which builds confidence and establishes a habit before scaling up.

Tip: Use the “two-minute rule.” If the idea of your goal feels too much, make it achievable in two minutes. Once you start, the chances are you will keep going.

Leverage the Power of Habit Stacking

In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear popularized the idea of habit stacking: linking a new habit to an existing one.

For instance, if you want to start a journaling habit, try stacking it onto something you already do regularly, like drinking your morning coffee.

Each time you sit with your coffee, spend a few minutes journaling before you take your first sip.

Over time, these habits will become so connected that one will automatically cue the other.

Why this works:

By anchoring your new habit to an existing one, you bypass the mental energy of remembering it.

Instead, your existing routine serves as a natural reminder.

Example Habit Stacks:

• After brushing your teeth at night, spend five minutes reading.
• After you finish lunch, take a short walk.
• When you turn off your work computer, write down your main goal for tomorrow.

These are tips I took from “Atomic Habits” and implemented it into my routine.

And it has worked amazingly well for me and it should work for you as well.

Track Your Progress and Celebrate Small Wins

Something that is not measured can never be improved.

So track your progress.

Tracking your progress is a powerful way to keep your momentum going.

It could be as simple as marking an “X” on a calendar each day you complete your habit or using an app to keep tabs on your achievements, tracking builds visual proof of your consistency.

The more streaks you see, the more motivated you’ll feel to keep it up.

And don’t forget to celebrate!

We are inherently born as celebration misers.

And hence, we overlook opportunities of celebrating, especially when it comes to our own achievements.

Don’t do that.

Instead celebrate every one of your achievements.

Even a small acknowledgment of your progress can reinforce the habit.

Why this works?

Small wins release dopamine, the “feel-good” hormone, which reinforces your behavior and helps the habit stick.

This positive feedback loop keeps you engaged and feeling accomplished, even when the progress is gradual.

Try This: Make a habit tracker in your planner or on your phone. Challenge yourself to hit a certain number of days in a row, but also be gentle on yourself if you miss a day. The goal is consistency, not perfection.

Here’s a habit tracker that I have put together in my Notion Workspace:

It feels good to look at that tracker and see a continuous streak.

So whenever I miss a habit on a day, I feel even more motivated to ensure I don’t fail at it, the next day.

You can try something similar to it.

Plan for the “Motivation Dips”

Let’s accept it.

There will be days when you just don’t feel like it.

When the initial excitement has faded and the routine feels like a chore.

Prepare for these inevitable dips in motivation by creating an action plan.

Identify your “bare minimum” for those tough days.

For example, if you’re building a workout habit, commit to just five minutes of movement on those off days.

Why this works:

Knowing that it’s okay to scale down (instead of skipping entirely) reinforces your commitment without burning you out.

This flexibility helps prevent the guilt that comes from missing a day, while still keeping the habit alive.

Example: On a tough day, instead of skipping your writing session, try writing just one sentence. If you’re struggling to work out, do a two-minute stretch instead of skipping exercise entirely.

Build in Accountability

Having someone to check in with can make a huge difference in habit formation.

It could be a friend with a similar goal, an online community, or even just a simple journal where you log your daily achievements and setbacks.

I have two accountability partners, one of whom is my wife (the tougher accountability partner) and the other one is my journal plus a weekly review routine,

Sharing your intentions with someone can reinforce your commitment and keep you motivated, even when you’re feeling low on internal drive.

Why this works:

Accountability makes the process social.

Knowing someone is rooting for you (or counting on you) adds an extra layer of motivation and increases your likelihood of sticking with your habit.

Try This: Set up a weekly accountability check-in with a friend or share your goal with someone who can encourage you along the way. If personal accountability isn’t feasible, consider joining an online group with similar goals.

You could also do a weekly review where you rate your week’s performance. This too works really well.

Focus on Identity, Not Just Outcome

Instead of just thinking about the goal you want to reach, think about the person you’re becoming by adopting this habit.

For example, instead of saying, “I want to run every day,” say, “I am someone who values fitness.”

This small mindset shift aligns your actions with your identity, which is often a stronger motivator than the outcome alone.

It looks pretty simple and you might question the effectiveness of something like this.

But it works amazingly well.

Why this works:

When your habit becomes part of your identity, it’s no longer about willpower.

You do it because it’s who you are, not just something you’re aiming to do.

Example: Rather than saying, “I’m trying to eat healthier,” say, “I’m someone who prioritizes my health.” This identity-based approach can make it easier to maintain habits even when challenges arise.

Wrapping it up!

Turning motivation into habit is a journey, not a one-time event.

Remember, habits are less about grand gestures and more about small, consistent actions that, over time, redefine who you are.

Next time you feel that spark of motivation, capture it and put these strategies into practice.

Let habit be the engine that keeps you going, even on the days when that initial fire seems to fade. With each small step, you’re building a routine that reflects the best version of yourself.

Until next time, remember: it’s not about what you do once in a while, but what you do consistently.

That’s where the magic happens.

Action Step for the Week

Pick one small habit you’d like to build this week. Follow the steps above and let me know how it goes; I’d love to hear your journey!

Recommended Newsletters

Here are few newsletters that I would recommend that you sign up to if you are interested in learning the art of running a side-hustle:

• Write, Build, Scale – https://sparklp.co/p/40cf6480e8
• Why we buy – https://sparklp.co/p/6d27bbcf8b
• The Book Bub – https://sparklp.co/p/3bcef5f1d4
• The Stacked Marketer – https://sparklp.co/p/5c2039bc2c

Sign up to these and follow them. You will get a lot of information and content for your blog posts, podcasts and even social media posts.

I will share more such ideas in my future newsletters.

I put in about 18 hours every month to create this newsletter, starting from researching to writing and editing it.

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What am I reading?

I absolutely love books and I read a lot.

In fact, I don’t just read a lot, but I also take notes on every book that I read.

I have pages and pages on information in my Notion Second Brain, so that I can find them and use them when ever I need.

Want to know more about the books I read. You can check it out here!

That’s it for this week!

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