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Why it’s so hard to restart

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By Brian Foley from Activate Fitness

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If you’ve ever procrastinated or struggled to start something despite having every intention to, you’ve undoubtedly felt this huge force: friction.

One definition of friction is ‘the force that opposes the motion of an object’. And while that works, another definition, one far more relevant to the context of today's topic, is a ‘conflict of a clash of wills, temperaments, or opinions’.

And when we look at friction as it pertains to motivation or habit change, that’s exactly what it is: a clash between who you are right now (Present You) and who you want to be in the future (Future You).

“Future You” is the mature, rational part of you that wants to do all the things it knows it should be doing like eating better, going to the gym, getting enough sleep, etc.

“Present You” is the childish part of you that wants to keep doing what it’s always been doing. It doesn’t want to change because change is hard and scary and it means taking responsibility.

For example, Future Me wants to write this article while Present Me wants to go on Instagram and mindlessly scroll for hours because it's easier than writing.

These two conflicting goals create an insurmountable amount of friction, so, instead of doing either, I end up sitting here watching the cursor mockingly blink at me as time passes by.

Then, before I know it, it’s lunchtime and I have dozens of other things to do and writing this article gets relegated to the imaginary place that is tomorrow where the entire process repeats itself.

Of course, you’re reading this article which means I overcame Present Me, finished it, and sent it for publishing.

How to beat Present You

1) Set small, achievable goals

Set small, realistic goals you’re confident you can achieve.

If your goal is to lose 30kg, for example, break it down into 2kg chunks.

2) Focus on the actions that will move you towards the goal

Now that you have a goal in mind, focus on the things you need to do every day that will move you towards your goal. You can do the same thing with nutrition.

3) Get a quick win

One of the reasons Present You is so reluctant to do the things you want to do is because it doesn’t believe you can do it, so you need to prove you can by getting a quick win as soon as possible on starting your goal.

4) Give yourself a deadline

If you don’t have a deadline, it’s very easy to become complacent and lose urgency. Having a deadline keeps you focused and stops you messing around.

What should your deadline look like? It depends, but I'd suggest setting a goal of losing 0.5-1% of your total body weight per week, and then use that as a rough guideline to work out how long it will take you.

5) Reward yourself

Nobody wants to work hard on a goal and not see progress. The rewards solve for that.

Each time you achieve your small goal, you receive a small reward that tells you you're doing a great job and you're on your way to your bigger goal.

It’s perfectly normal to feel a bit demotivated as you restart on your goals. Use the tips in this article to help you restart.

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Killarney for Palestine film screening

Killarney for Palestine recently held a sold-out screening of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘No Other Land’ at the West End School of Arts, raising €2,100 for Camp Breakerz. The event, which […]

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Killarney for Palestine recently held a sold-out screening of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘No Other Land’ at the West End School of Arts, raising €2,100 for Camp Breakerz.

The event, which took place on July 3, included two screenings, both of which were fully booked. Guests enjoyed cheese and wine before the shows.
‘No Other Land’ depicts the ongoing destruction in Masafer Yatta, a cluster of villages in the Southern West Bank, and shows the experiences of Palestinians under Israeli occupation. The film won in the Best Documentary category at this year’s Academy Awards.
The screenings were organised in association with the West End School of Arts.
All proceeds from the €25 tickets benefited Camp Breakerz Crew, a children’s charity based in Gaza that provides creative outlets through dance and is involved in food distribution programs in Nuseirat Camp and Deir-Al-Balah due to food shortages.
Sally MacMonagle, who recently spent time in Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, also spoke at one of the screenings.

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Bid to host European Presidency summit meetings gathers pace

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism, Michael Cahill TD, has highlighted Killarney’s suitability to host summit meetings of international Government Ministers during Ireland’s six-month European Presidency tenure in 2026. Deputy Cahill […]

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Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism, Michael Cahill TD, has highlighted Killarney’s suitability to host summit meetings of international Government Ministers during Ireland’s six-month European Presidency tenure in 2026.

Deputy Cahill believes Kerry’s available accommodation, food, and conference facilities are “second to none,” with Killarney as the central location.
“Visitors from every corner of the earth have been coming to Kerry for centuries now, to experience its beauty and serenity and have returned on many occasions because of the fabulous time they have enjoyed during their stay here,” said Deputy Cahill. “Where else would you want to bring the senior Government Ministers of all of our EU counterpart states, to experience Ireland, its customs and heritage?”
The Rossbeigh TD outlined various attractions available for visitors during downtime: “During their downtime, they can visit the Blaskets and Slea Head, Sceilg Mhichíl and the Ring of Kerry, Killarney’s Lakes, Gap of Dunloe, National Park and Sliabh Luachra, all of our glorious beaches from Ballybunion to Rossbeigh, Kells to Ventry, Whitestrand to Inch, Ballinskelligs to Cromane, Waterville to Derrynane.” He also cited Kerry’s golf courses, Listowel Writers Week, the Rose of Tralee, and Puck Fair as potential experiences.
Deputy Cahill confirmed he has raised this matter with An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin; An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris; and Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne.
“If Killarney’s bid is successful in bringing the Heads of State to our county for meetings, conferences and functions, it will be a massive boost to the local economy in Killarney and also throughout the county,” added Cahill.”Iwill continue to push in the coming months for Killarney and Kerry to be included as bases for the rounds of meetings that are to take place from July 1 to December 312026.”

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