The Habit of Consistency
7 Pointers in Learning Consistency
Consistency isn’t about motivation or willpower—it’s about making things easier for yourself, both mentally and physically. When you remove decision-making and create the right conditions, showing up becomes automatic.
If you’ve ever struggled to stay consistent, it’s not because you lack discipline— perhaps you just need a system to reinforce it.
True consistency starts from within and extends outward. First, you need to set the foundation internally, then reinforce it with external systems.
Let’s break it down.
Part 1: The Inside – Build the Mindset
1. Stop Talking to Yourself
One of the biggest reasons people struggle with consistency is because they overthink. The moment you ask yourself, “Should I do this today?” you’ve already lost. Your brain will flood you with excuses—“I should review instead because I have a test tomorrow” or “My right leg feels sore.”
The solution? Treat it as non-negotiable. Unless there’s an emergency, you stick to the plan. No second-guessing, no justifications. Just action.
You are not allowed to talk to yourself about it, more like talk yourself out of it.
💡 Try this: Set a specific time for your habit and commit to it like an appointment. If it’s in the calendar, it’s happening.
2. Manage Expectations and Make It Easy
Many people struggle with consistency because they expect too much too soon. They think being consistent means sticking to something perfectly for months—when in reality, consistency is built gradually.
Instead of setting an unrealistic long-term standard, lower the bar:
✅ Want to stay consistent with a project? Start with just one focused session.
✅ Want to keep a routine? Try sticking to it for one week, not three months.
✅ Want to build discipline? Prove to yourself you can show up twice before committing to daily execution.
The hardest part is getting started. Once you build momentum, doing more becomes natural.
💡 Try this: Instead of committing to a long, overwhelming timeline, start with a manageable chunk—one week, then two, then four. Adjust as you go.
3. Treat Consistency as a Skill
Consistency isn’t just a personality trait—it’s a skill. Like a muscle, the more you train it, the stronger it gets. The less you use it, the weaker it becomes.
And just like any skill, expect setbacks. That’s normal. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s progress. If you stop for too long, you’ll have to rebuild from scratch—just like losing strength after skipping the gym for months.
The key? Use it everywhere. Whether in work, learning, or personal routines, being mindful about consistency in small areas makes it easier to apply in bigger ones.
💡 Try this: Be patient. Be forgiving. Build momentum gradually. The more you practice consistency, the easier it becomes to maintain.
4. Track Your Progress
Many people struggle with consistency because they don’t track where they are. Without a clear record, it’s easy to feel stuck or unsure if you’re making progress.
Keeping a simple log—even just noting when you showed up and when you didn’t—can make all the difference.
Tracking serves two purposes:
✅ It makes you more mindful of your progress and setbacks.
✅ It helps you identify patterns and take steps to prevent recurring obstacles.
💡 Try this: Keep a simple log of what you’re working on. If you miss a day, write down why. Over time, this will help you refine your approach and adjust where needed.
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Part 2: The Outside – Make Your Environment Work for You
5. Reduce Friction
Your environment should make your habits easier, not harder.
If you struggle with working out, lay out your gym clothes the night before. If you want to read more, put a book on your pillow. If you want to write, open your notes app before bed, so it’s the first thing you see in the morning.
Every little adjustment matters. Make the habit effortless to start.
💡 Try this: Identify one habit you struggle with. What’s one small change in your environment that could make it easier?
6. Get an Accountability System
Consistency becomes easier when someone else is involved.
When I was preparing for my microbiology certification exam, I asked my cousin to be my accountability partner. Every day, I sent her a screenshot of my Toggl time tracker as proof that I studied for four hours (breaks not included). Just knowing I had to report to someone kept me on track.
It looks something like this:
To make it even more serious, I had to pay a certain amount of money if I missed a study session. This financial consequence made skipping a day feel much more costly—literally.
That extra layer of commitment helped me stay consistent and ultimately led to better results than I initially aimed for. I ended up just 2 points shy of making it into the top 10 for the entire country. (Which I also shared here)
Other ways to build accountability:
✅ Join an online group focused on the same habit
✅ Find a coworking space where people are actively working
✅ Set up a public challenge and track your progress
💡 Try this: Make a small consequence for missing your habit—like donating to charity or paying a friend. It adds weight to your commitment.
7. Surround Yourself with the Right People
The people around you influence your behavior more than you realize. If your friends are disciplined and focused, you’ll naturally adopt their mindset. If they’re constantly making excuses, skipping commitments, and indulging in distractions, you’ll follow suit.
Be intentional about your environment—not just physical but social as well.
💡 Try this: Spend more time around people who embody the habits you want to build. Even just observing their behavior can shift your own.
Final Thoughts
The habit of consistency isn’t about being perfect—it’s about making it easier for yourself to show up.
Start from within by changing how you approach habits. Stop negotiating with yourself, start small, and treat consistency like a skill. Then, structure your external world to support your efforts.
If you master both, consistency will no longer feel like a struggle. It will just be who you are.
Which part of this are you currently using most? What would you like to try? Let me know in the comments! 🚀
What’s Next 🚨:
I want you to know that even while using the tools mentioned above, there will still be times when you miss— not once but A LOT.
You’ll get knocked off course, or burnout will creep in.
Systems like these help you to keep them away as much as possible, but they’re not foolproof.
In fact, some give you the impression that they’ll solve all your problems, but the truth is, they don’t.
In the next issue, I’ll explore how to maintain consistency, even when things don’t go as planned—when your systems don’t shield you from... well, LIFE.
Stay tuned!
That is all for today! Wishing you all a great week ahead! Thank you so much for reading up until here! 😊
Frey.
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