Goals worth having aren’t always easy. Don’t let the difficulty or length of a task in front of you discourage you from going for it. [1] X Research source Anything that is meant to change will happen effortlessly. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t do your part or don’t have to do the work required to bring about change. But if you find yourself forcing it with a lot of effort, it possibly means you’re going about it the wrong way and that is going to bring a lot of frustration and discouragement.
“What are the most likely things to go wrong?” “How can I prevent problems or issues in advance?” “What tools/materials do I need for success?” “What steps can I take now to ensure success later?”
Try to be a sponge, absorbing as much information as you can whenever you can. The more you challenge yourself, the more you’ll learn. Taking the difficult or longer route usually pays off in more experience and know-how. [2] X Research source
That said, don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day – it’s not the end of the world. The point is regular, scheduled practice to work on your goals. Just get back on the horse the next day.
“What is the current problem(s)?” “How effective was my last solution?” “What has changed since I last made my plans?” “What is the best possible outcome that I can strive for at this moment?”
Without a doubt, hours of practice is the common thread between all winners. From the Beatles playing all-night shows in Germany to Bill Gates locked in a room with early computers, the best put in thousands and thousands of hours of work before succeeding. Good practice is challenging, not easy. Lance Armstrong famously brought his bike to the Alps during wintertime as preparation for climbing the same mountains in the summer’s Tour de France.
Challenges force you to learn and adapt on the fly. Remaining open and flexible will help you handle any difficulty that comes your way.
Set aside the same time each day to work on your goals and projects. Once you actually carve out a dedicated time to work it becomes much easier to stick to. Being a winner does require some sacrifice. Setting your priorities so that you work on your passions may mean smaller hobbies get less time and attention. [5] X Research source
Remind yourself that you not only are going to win, but you deserve to win. Being hungry and hopeful will provide motivation even if things get rough. [6] X Research source
In a game of tennis, imagine you’re playing someone with an amazing serve, but poor net play. They will want to hit it hard, keeping you back on the baseline to avoid the net, but you should flip this on it’s head and force them to the front-court with short shots and slices. In a board, card, or strategy game, ask yourself each turn what your opponent still needs to do to win. How can you prevent them from getting this?
More than just giving you strategies, reading up on a game’s news and tips helps you recognize your opponent’s strategy as they try it, helping you cut it off quickly. Even athletes should constantly read up on new advancements. Look no further, for example, than US triple jumper Christian Taylor. After reading up on research and science, he broke conventional wisdom by taking shorter, faster jumps instead of long, slow ones. He then won the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics. [8] X Research source
If an opposing team is having the most success attacking down the left side, don’t just keep playing. Find a way to plug the hole on your team’s left. In Rock, Paper, Scissors, most men throw rock first, while most women throw paper. That means you should always start with paper – you’re most likely to win or tie. As you keep playing, look out for similar series of moves from your opponent to read them like book. [9] X Research source
In sports, like soccer, for example, take shots from all around the box, not just once you get close to the goal. Make them defend both outside the box and inside of it to keep them moving. Use the natural world to help stay random. For example, imagine you’re serving in tennis. Instead of serving the same place, or alternating each time, look at your watch. If the second hand says 0-30, serve to the right. If it says 31-60, serve left
Many games, like chess, have “practice problems” online, which are particular game-like scenarios that you must quickly figure out. For sports, this is why drills are so essential. Don’t just think about repeating the motion over and over again, think about how you’ll use this particular skill to succeed in a game. [11] X Research source For complex tasks like video games playing against a computer, or even against yourself, is a great way to build skills on your own time. Remember that no goal will be reached overnight. Getting better is hard and we all want it to happen as quickly as possible, but make sure you don’t get discouraged because your progress is not coming as fast as you would like.
If you learn or find something useful for your teammates, let them know. Provide on-the-fly updates as you play – “I got this one,” “I need some help,” “watch your back,” etc. [12] X Research source
No matter what game you’re playing, keep your poker face up. The only emotions you show are the ones you want your opponent to see. If you bluff in a game, for whatever reason, don’t tell your opponents even if you pull it off successfully. This is why, unless forced, you never show your hand in a game of cards. They can’t figure out when you’re bluffing and when you’re serious.
