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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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Strong connections made at tourism tradeshow 

Many significant business deals were signed at this year’s Meitheal – Ireland’s largest and most important trade event for the tourism industry. Held in the INEC, 450 Irish businesses pitched to over 230 international […]

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Many significant business deals were signed at this year’s Meitheal – Ireland’s largest and most important trade event for the tourism industry.

Held in the INEC, 450 Irish businesses pitched to over 230 international buyers from 17 countries at Fáilte Ireland’s flagship trade event. 

Running since 1975, Meitheal is organised in partnership with Tourism Ireland to provide Irish tourism businesses with the opportunity to sell directly to top international buyers and tour operators.

The best of what is on offer across Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, Ireland’s Ancient East, the Wild Atlantic Way and Dublin, were showcased with the aim of being scheduled on the itineraries of the global tour operators.

Key themes and trends emerging this year are sustainable travel options, immersive outdoor experiences and festivals.

Speaking about the importance of developing a future pipeline of tourism business, Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, said that “creating a strong pipeline of future business is key for the recovery of tourism”.

“Seeing the demand for the Irish tourism product with international buyers at Meitheal is fantastic. Each international buyer represents tens of thousands of possible visitors to Ireland, and their business will be hugely important for tourism and hospitality businesses, communities, and destination Ireland as we continue to work towards recovery,” he said. 

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Outdoor dining area officially opens in town

A new outdoor dining space at Kenmare Place was officially opened today (Wednesday). The project, which was supported with €605,000 in funding from Fáilte Ireland under the Local Authority Weatherproofing and […]

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A new outdoor dining space at Kenmare Place was officially opened today (Wednesday).

The project, which was supported with €605,000 in funding from Fáilte Ireland under the Local Authority Weatherproofing and Outdoor Dining Infrastructure Scheme, provides an attractive outdoor dining option for locals and visitors to Killarney.

“This is a really wonderful addition to Killarney’s tourism infrastructure and will prove a great asset throughout the year and particularly during the forthcoming tourist season,” said Cllr Kelleher, Cathaoirleach of the Killarney Municipal District, who did the honours.

“One of the effects of the recent pandemic was the need to utilise and maximise outdoor dining options and this infrastructure shows what can be achieved in an imaginative way. It will greatly enhance Killarney’s reputation as a destination for top quality tourism experiences.”

The project has been operational since last October but the official opening was timed to coincide with the Meitheal 2023 tourism industry showcase that was organised by Fáilte Ireland at the INEC this week.

“It is fantastic to see Killarney’s outdoor dining infrastructure being so well received by trade and visitors alike,” Miriam Kennedy, Head of Wild Atlantic Way at Fáilte Ireland, said.

Councillors in the Killarney Municipal District approved planning permission for the infrastructure which was completed by Daniel Canty Construction.

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