EDITOR’S PICKS

Consistency Brings The Rewards Of A Succesful Life

To be consistent is smart work but to be consistent take short breaks

Who is consistent?

Tomorrow's work should be done today. Today’s work should be done now

If the moment is lost, how will the work be done?

There is no other time like now. — Translated from Kabir (Originally told by Kabir in Indian language.)

You should make today amazing to get the rewards for life. You are amazing and one of the ways in staying up and being successful is by working every day.

Working bit by bit every day is much better than trying to finish the work in one go. It never gets finished. It just gets pushed on and on.

There were two kids who were great friends One of them always quoted the hare and was agile but was not consistent with his race. He slept and decided to rush after the slow tortoise. Who won the race? the consistent and slow fellow the tortoise.

I have learned in life that when you are consistent you may be slow but life always rewards you.

Let me narrate my own experience of consistency to you:

Many years ago, I had three little kids at home and I was also teaching in a college. Those days we only had a typewriter and fortunately, I had an electric typewriter but I used to move on a means of public transport.

I was consistent in my work but I felt the burnout. I was getting upset and felt like retorting sharply on small issues. I realized there was something wrong with me.

One of my friends suggested that I should take breaks and that would help me a lot.

I self-reflected and realized that though I did not keep very high goals by writing a little every day and being focused I was not going out for coffee treats or for a walk or for social engagements.

I sort of felt that I had found the key to my unhappiness. It was not consistency but it was the lack of change and adequate breaks from my daily routine.

Pleasure is a part of consistency, sustainability and happiness.

Then I experimented by going for a 20-minute walk, going out during the weekends, and also socializing a little more. I started including pleasure with work.

Mind you the results were astounding. I stopped complaining. I was happy and my productivity was higher than many people. Over time I have maintained my energy and positivity.

How to maintain consistency in life?

#1. Consistency should always be sustainable

I read Winston's article How I Rise From Nobody to Somebody in 9 Months where he says that consistency should be sustainable and he was facing burnout with too much consistency.

The first thing to remember is that consistency should be sustainable. For this, the goals should be prepared in such a manner that they are achievable.

Prepare your goals carefully and work little by little to achieve them. Sustainability means that the person should take on only that much work that he can handle.

Consistency never drains energy because a consistent human being does not keep high expectations. He only works how much he can and in a flow. He keeps a low profile and a low goal but he is focused. He takes breaks in his work and does it in parts while focussing on the goals.

#2. Take short breaks

Always take breaks when you work. No human being can continue to work all the time. There is a limit to the capacity of work. This is why it has become the standard work policy of 8 hours officially with a break.

My suggestion is to make each day remarkable and amazing in your life. Take short breaks every other day or at least weekly, deciding to relax and go out with friends or family for coffee or go out shopping. Just buy groceries, go for a long drive, or whatever social engagement gives you happiness.

#3 Do your work with happiness.

The work that you do should give you pleasure and if you feel that the work does not make you happy and you cannot align yourself to the vision. It is better to leave than to continue working with toxic anxiety and negativity. Have a passion and enjoy your work and rewards will be showered on you.

The learnings

• The secret sauce is to make a goal that you can sustain. Goals should not be to reach a mountain when you have never walked up a hill even. Go up to a small mound and slowly push yourself up. A slow and steady push makes you go up faster on the ladder.

“Consistency of performance is essential. You don’t have to be exceptional every week but as a minimum you need to be at a level that even on a bad day you get points on the board.” Sean Dyche

• Never tire yourself. Take short breaks. Leave your work desk. Keep yourself free for social engagements. Keep a goal of enjoying nature and going for a walk or a garden with friends or alone. Relax! Relaxation is the key to consistency.
• Working with pleasure keeps you on an amazing journey in life. Either work with passion and not be tensed in life or leave it for better opportunities. Each day of your life will feel the positivity and happiness of fulfilling something good and making life enriched and ready to receive awards and rewards of a successful life.

Consistency is not hard work but smart work. It only means work everyday with relaxation and fun to achieve your goal.

So have fun, enjoy and work everyday and see the rewards that you get. Make each day amazing and fulfiling with work and pleasure.

“When you look at people who are successful, you will find that they aren’t the people who are motivated but have consistency in their motivation”. Arsene Wenger

Editor’s picks of the week that I read this week

Now for a few picks of this week’s articles on Coffee Times

#1. Kasturi Patra 8 Deliciously Fun and Unusual Tips to Skyrocket Your Writing Skills

To be a good writer Kasturi wants us all to read a book for the pleasure of it. You must read fiction and improve your imagination. Get off that chair and go for a walk in nature. Keep a pet, enjoy playing like a kid and then reflect on yourself. All these ingredients are for being consistent too.

#2. Mulan Have You Ever Seen When Encountering An Earthquake No One Runs Away? wrote about her experience in her workplace in Japan when there was an earthquake. Japan suffers from this serious problem. She narrates that the Japanese are calm and collected when an earthquake happens. Her anecdotes are interesting. Read on

3. Lynsey Wall Don’t allow anxiety or worry of judgement get in your way

The author had a health issue and though she had a gym membership she could not go because she did not have self-belief and self-confidence. She kept thinking that she was not good enough and postponing going to the gym.

Her message to all is not to hold back as the only person you will punish is yourself. Read on..

Jason Edmunds 5 Positive Effects Of Unemployment On My Life.

Jason lost his job and was unemployed. He writes about his challenges and helps others to tide over them through self-reflection, Walking and exercising in nature, eating home-cooked food, and bringing a belief and confidence in himself.

5. Leonard Tillerman Sometimes Life Hands You Lemons

I wish Leonard Tillerman a speedy recovery as is suffering from Covid. He wrote a very inspirational article. In his words “Never let life keep you down. For when you do, all is lost. Rise up and let life know that you are no easy mark!”

So goodbye friends! see you again soon. In the meantime keep your consistency button on and take your breaks to be relaxed and happy!

Thanks to the supporting team members Winston, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Yana Bostongirl, Sharing Randomly, Vincent Van Patten, Marrisa W. Ashley

©Dr. Preeti Singh, 2022.

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