As we know momentum is a key factor for all things in motion. Like cars, for example, a driver attempting to accelerate from a dead stop must use more of the engine’s energy to get the momentum going. Once optimal velocity is obtained however, the car can maintain speed with little effort. As we learned in science class, momentum is a powerful phenomenon that we must take into account in much more than physics calculations. I know I know we aren’t in high school science class anymore, so don’t worry, no one is going to steal your lunch money.
Any project that requires energy can be easier or harder to accomplish depending on the momentum and speed accumulated beforehand (you’d always want to pick up speed before biking up a hill). Knowing this, we should all aim to create momentum so that we can achieve more without necessarily having to put more effort into it, like the car that’s already moving at the desired speed.
Too much momentum can also increase the risk of a crash occurring, like when someone speeding smashes the break and continues to skid until crashing into the play place at McDonald’s. In addition, there is a balance between acceleration and deceleration that affects momentum. Once the car is travelling at 100km/h you can let your pedal off the gas for a couple of seconds without noticing much effect on the speed of the car, but take your foot off the gas too long and the car comes to a halt. In the same way in life, rest causes declarant and too much of it destroys the momentum completely. I’m not saying we shouldn’t rest as burnout is a real cause for concern. However, in our society, I think most people are not close to burnout and are being negatively affected by resting too much.
Human behaviour
Noticing that you are tired is a great queue to not overdo things, but what happens when that inner dialogue of “I’m tired” gets repeated day after day? It becomes a habit and you start to believe it. Believing that you are always tired is like driving a car down the highway thinking you have no gas left. Without the belief that your tank is full (which it actually is), you won’t get very far.
One of my favourite all-time quotes is “those who say they can and those who say they can’t are both usually right.” So going into anything thinking that you are tired will almost always result in feeling tired. You must program your mind to believe you can do more and eventually you will start to achieve more.
Self-sabotage
I like to point out the destruction of momentum and confidence that occurs when someone starts a new diet or exercise program and quits not long after. Most people will go into the program with high levels of motivation thinking that this will be the time. Once that motivation fades so does the momentum that has been built up. POOF, gone. This whole process of becoming healthy has become a daunting task for most and is almost always met with defeat because people are not considering the effects of momentum. Starting a new diet with no momentum creates so much initial effort that after a month you feel like there is no point. Instead start small, built momentum over time and you’ll see that in no time the car will be rolling down the highway. The longer someone sticks to something the more momentum they create. Next time you want to completely stop your diet think of the momentum you’ve created. That momentum can be destroyed in no time if you let your foot off the gas for too long. So next time you want to give up on your diet opt for a cheat meal and follow the strategies to come in order to maintain your momentum.
Retirement and momentum
Some people intuitively push off retirement for the fear of complacency once retired. Imagine how difficult it would be to stay consistent with your routine when most daily requirements are no longer holding you accountable. Whether you like what you do or not there is no denying the fact that you have to get up in the morning and get **** done, which leads to momentum being created and used in other aspects of life..
Retirees often find themselves in two camps, the one that is looking forward to ramping up their activity levels by pursuing passions and involving themselves in the community upon retirement. The other is ready to retire in order to relax. These people differ in their mindsets and both of these people will get exactly what they have wished for. One will be energized, and productive and pursue their passions in their free time. The other will get caught in the constant need to relax and end up slowly losing momentum.
Retirement is the ultimate goal for most people but I’ve long wondered why it seems that health and energy levels drop within a year of people retiring. Shouldn’t they finally have the time to focus on their health and wellbeing? We all have time every day to focus on things that matter the most to us, start building momentum now in your health and wellness now so that you go into retirement striving. I think retirement has to be reflected upon by people as a time to pursue their passions and interests in life. Not to finally just “relax.”
Creating momentum within the day by prioritizing mornings.
I have long realized that when I win the morning I typically win the day. When I accomplish my morning workout or finish writing a report in the morning I tend to not want that sense of achievement to stop so I keep accomplishing things all day.
This desire for achievement is caused by the release of dopamine. Dopamine is also released when someone scrolls through their phone or watches television. So it comes as no surprise that whatever dopamine-releasing activity we start our day off doing our brains will seek out more of the dopamine associated with doing those things. In short, the things we do early on in the day determine what we are most likely to do throughout the day.
Ever realize how you won’t clean the house for weeks and then once you start you feel like you can not stop and end up dusting every corner of the house. Now imagine not having started cleaning in the first place. Without momentum, a task seems so much more difficult than it really is.
Win the morning and the likelihood of winning the day increases significantly.
Even as someone who is very critical of his performance, I still lose the morning some days and skip my workouts. I notice that those days are not as productive.
Win the morning
- Put your phone away from your bed so you have to get out of bed to shut the alarm off. This will minimize the number of times you hit the snooze button and starts the day with a win. You can either start the day stuck in the mud or create a head start within the first second.
- For 20 minutes do something physically challenging like running or working out. Push yourself for those 20 minutes! Getting that dopamine release from doing a challenging task will trick your mind to want to continue doing challenging tasks for that same neurological response.
- Set priorities and focus on your goals in the morning. Without a clear direction and vision for who you want to be you are just drifting around never getting to your destination.
Bonus: If you’re feeling brave take a cold shower! Cold showers reduce inflammation and also create massive momentum as they suck.
Long-lasting momentum
Create long-lasting momentum by reviewing your goals regularly. Commit to your goals, hold yourself accountable and ask others to hold you accountable. Motivation will come and go. With good habits as a foundation, however, we make sure that the momentum never slows to a halt. I believe that Habits are THE most powerful driver for personal development as they set a baseline behaviour. I hate working out my core, and I have tried to workout abs after my main workouts for years to no avail. Some months ago I started doing my core work first thing in the morning right after brushing my teeth. Starting off with the thing that I dislike doing the most consistently has set a new standard for me. By setting goals and aiming to achieve them we wake up with more passion and desire in our hearts.
How to regain momentum
Recently my habits have been changing as a move is nearing and my current home gym has all but disappeared and my routine went with it. I have allowed this change to derail my daily habits, therefore, slowing my momentum. As things are changing, it is my responsibility to create and establish new habits that allow me to achieve and become the person that I aspire to be. Everyone will get thrown off course for a while but it’s important to realize it, realign your actions, and set new habits. Regaining momentum starts with starting. With adequate momentum, we achieve more and we start to believe that we are capable of more.
Final thoughts
Please stop telling yourself that you’re tired, you’re not tired, you’re stuck and you just haven’t allowed yourself to start moving in the right direction. Whatever your beliefs are about life, I believe that we find purpose and a sense of worth through personal development and continuous betterment. If you are waiting for external gratification before starting to work on yourself internally you’re essentially destroying any momentum you have.
Nike said it best “Just do it.”