Golfers spend their lives chasing the elusive “Perfect Swing” by aligning their bodies, consistently practicing their swing with coaching, visualization, and precision tools.
NBA All-Star Stephen Curry, who holds the record for highest free throw shooting percentage of all time at 90% accuracy (and also happens to be a golf buff!) says: “I can get better. I haven’t reached my ceiling yet on how well I can shoot the basketball.”
What do these players have in common? PRACTICE. And not the kind of clock-in, clock-out mindset that leaves them right where they are when they showed up to the course – or the gym. World-class golfers, basketball players, and agile leaders alike each must adopt a mindset of growth that relies on repetition and consistency.
Becoming your best requires consistently practicing, practicing, practicing with an unquenchable thirst for improvement. Consistency benefits each area of your life, from the workplace to relationships to personal well-being, time management, and developing the best version of yourself for the world.
Tips for Applying Consistency in Developing Healthy Habits
No matter your area of practice, consistency plays a pivotal role as you pursue your goals and manage the daily routines that align with your long-term vision. Consistency is the backbone of effective leadership and management, especially in a world where change is the only constant!
Tip #1: Develop a routine.
First, create a consistent schedule that includes dedicated time for self-reflection, learning, and growth. This might require first working with a coach or program that helps you identify where you’re currently spending your time – and where your priorities might need a shift toward your goals.
Practicing self-care goes deeper than daily bubble baths or a daily ten-minute walk. Radical and lasting self-care means prioritizing activities and work that nourish your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. (And don’t be afraid to prune work here, too! If you notice a sense of dread when it comes to any task, find ways to limit or delegate that type of work.)
Allocating time for strategic, long-term thinking should be another consistent step in your regular routine. Set aside time and space for reflection and brainstorming, perhaps with colleagues or with a coach, to let the innovation flow.
Level Up: To take the next :step your everyday routine, utilize an accountability system into your action plan. This can be as simple as setting alarms for yourself or establishing a relationship with a coach or program to help you stay on track and accountable to your routine.
Tip #2: Embrace continuous learning.
Read regularly! Especially for those in often stressful and strenuous positions of leadership, reading both for growth and for relaxation is essential for self-awareness and self-care. Consistently read books, articles, and research that is relevant to your field to stay updated and expand your body of knowledge.
Seek feedback from mentors, colleagues, and team members to identify and stay accountable to working on your areas for improvement.
Commit to a rigorous professional development plan that creates opportunities for you to enhance your skills, network with colleagues, and, of course, leaves time for you to put your new ideas and skills into practice.
Level Up: Look for ways to combine your continuous learning practices, such as attending conferences as both a speaker and attendee or listening to podcast interviews from experts in your field in your downtime.
Tip #3: Adopt new habits.
Start small! Consistently introduce new habits gradually. If you focus on adding one or two habits to your everyday routine at a time, you’ll experience a higher rate of success. Adopting a series of positive self-talk phrases or mantras, practicing mindfulness, or even making a practice of asking for feedback are some simple ways to introduce opportunities for growth in a consistent way.
Create a system of reminders to consistently use visual cues, alarms, or digital tools to prompt and reinforce your new habits. At Point North International, we love project management tools like ClickUp to help us track our progress on long-term goals, and checking these systems can become a practice of consistency in itself!
Track your progress and celebrate your wins. As you look back a the past days, weeks, months, or quarter, plan and consistently celebrate your progress and check your work’s alignment to your long-term vision and goals, making adjustments along the way.
Level Up: Introduce a creative outlet during your self-care time, such as drawing, painting, singing, or even dancing! Exercising your brain and body in new ways works to create new connections in your brain and activate your creativity.
Benefits to Consistency in Practicing Healthy Habits
Consistency creates a powerful force of momentum and transformation. There is no greater catalyst to creating long-term change and meaningful steps toward your goals than seeing the benefits of short-term, step-by-step improvements.
In terms of career and life efficiency, consistency is key. These ten benefits speak to the positive results you access when consistency is a part of your leadership mindset, especially when change and transition are at play.
Benefit #1: Increase your stability and adaptability.
Our minds and bodies crave predictability – something that often goes amiss during times of transition or change. When you maintain consistent health habits, for example, they serve as anchors throughout your day, or touchpoints that remind you of what makes you feel good. Working a consistent routine or schedule reminds your body and mind that they are safe, allowing you to adapt and navigate transitions more smoothly.
Benefit #2: Build momentum.
Each and every – and we do mean every! – small step forward reinforces the habit you’ve adopted, making it easier and easier to continue as you create a positive cycle of progress. This momentum provides the motivation and resilience needed to overcome obstacles and sustain healthy habits in the face of change.
Benefit #3: Reduce your stress.
Change can be stressful, and maintaining consistent habits in your work and personal life can act as a buffer against stress. Engaging in activities like exercise, meditation, or proper sleep consistently helps to manage your stress levels and improve your overall well-being. There is nothing more important than supporting your mental and physical health during transitions or periods of growth.
Benefit #4: Build resilience.
Consistency in health habits cultivates resilience. When you consistently prioritize healthy habits, you strengthen your mental fitness, which teaches you how to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to new circumstances.
Benefit #5: Anchor your identity.
Maintaining consistent productive habits helps anchor your identity, as your new habits become an integral part of how you see yourself. Establishing a strong sense of self with positive self-talk provides a stable reference point for your well-being and personal growth.
Benefit #6: Enhance your focus and productivity.
By consistently practicing time management techniques, prioritizing tasks, and establishing a structured work schedule, you are able to optimize your productivity and accomplish more in less time. This heightened focus and efficiency can positively impact your career trajectory.
Benefit #7: Improve your adaptability and skill development.
When launching a new phase of your career, it’s essential to facilitate adaptability and skill development as you take on new roles and create new opportunities. Learning new technologies, acquiring new industry knowledge, or honing your transferable skills are some ways in which to build the flexibility and expertise required to succeed in different roles or industries.
Benefit #8: Increase your confidence.
When you celebrate small steps toward your long-term vision, especially in times of change or uncertainty, consistently practicing your new habits fosters a sense of accomplishment and confidence. When you choose to take on new challenges and seek new learning opportunities, you expand your knowledge and capabilities.
Benefit #9: Strengthen your professional reputation and personal brand.
When you show up for yourself, others notice! By consistently demonstrating qualities such as reliability, dedication, and a strong work ethic, you establish yourself as a trustworthy and committed professional. This positive reputation can contribute to your career advancement and increase your chances of success during transitions.
Benefit #10: Contribute to your personal well-being and sense of fulfillment.
Consistently adopting healthy habits leads to knowing yourself as a person of commitment, reliability, and growth. When we consistently show up as the best version of ourselves, we show
ourselves that we are dependable and trustworthy, fostering our sense of fulfillment as we work toward our goals and purpose.
Master consistency, and master your mindset.
Whether your goal is to lead a team to increased revenue, grow a start-up into a healthy and thriving business, or achieve the “Perfect Swing,” consistently practicing healthy habits in your work and personal life will help you make immeasurable strides. And don’t underestimate the power of celebrating and sharing your wins with others!
Collaboration and accountability in consistently adopting your habits are as important as the habits themselves. If you are seeking a guide as you embrace the power of consistency in your self-leadership journey, PointNorth International has the expertise to keep you on track. Invest in your lifelong growth and reach out to schedule a discovery session today!
