Consistency is the key to building momentum. Everyone is different, but for me, I work better when I do something day in and day out. I don’t take days off, but rather have planned “rest days” where I intentionally lighten the work load.
Examples for exercise:
Sometimes I don’t feel like working out, but I do it everyday anyways. Even on my planned rest days, I may bike, go for a hike, or stretch. There is no day where I am just sitting on the couch doing nothing.
I believe that it’s too easy to fall into traps by taking days off. This includes working out (or not), eating well (or not), being financially responsible (or not), and reading to improve your knowledge (or not). The easier thing to do is to put off the “hard” action to better yourself and, instead, just relax. I know so many people that say, “I’ve been pretty good this week. I’m going to treat myself. I deserve it.” Only do this within reason, and do it with intention! Don’t eat an entire pizza while binge watching a show, only to realize that you’ve been mindlessly eating and didn’t even get to enjoy your cheat meal.
Remember, you build momentum by being consistent. You don’t have to make huge strides to see improvement. Even if you’re getting 1% better everyday, at the end of the year you will be 365% better than you were at the beginning of the year. Keep adding to your progress and your results by being consistent.
One final note…I live a rather Spartan lifestyle, but that is because that’s what I enjoy. You don’t have to do this. But just make sure that whatever you do, you’re doing it for a reason and thinking of the long-term consequences of your actions. Are you getting 1% better today?