• Shop

    Rep The Cause, Break The Stigma.

    #ITAINTWEAKTOSPEAK
    View All
    • New Arrivals
    • Best Sellers
    • Bundles
    • Hoodies & Sweaters
    • Unisex
    • Kids
    • View All
    Mens
    • Mens All
    Womens
    • Womens All
    Accessories
    • Car Stickers
    • Stationary
    • Headwear
  • Get Help

    Keep in the know

    #ITAINTWEAKTOSPEAK
    Support
    • Getting Help
    • Crisis Support
    • Mental Health Services
    Animated Videos
    • Detective Duck
    Resources
    • We Asked Our Psych
    • Your Stories
    • News and Blogs
    • Downloadable Fact Sheets
  • Mental Health Programs

    Invest in your Mental Health

    #ITAINTWEAKTOSPEAK
    Face To Face
    • LIVINWell Plus
    • LIVINWell In Work
    • LIVINWell In School
    • LIVINWell In Sport/Community
    Online
    • e-learning Mental Health Awareness Program
    • LIVINWell Online
  • Get Involved

    Help Us, Help Others

    #ITAINTWEAKTOSPEAK
    Donate
    • Donate to LIVIN
    • Regular Donation
    • One-Off Donation
    • Workplace Giving
    • Leaving A Gift In Your Will
    Fundraise
    • Create Your Own
    • LIVIN Charity Raffle - WIN This Ultimate Trailer
    • Charity Raffle - Play For Purpose
    • In Celebration
    • In Memory
    • Join a Fundraising Event
    Upcoming Events
    • Legacy Through LIVIN Charity Golf Day - 15 August 2025
    • Dreamworld Fun Run - 17 August 2025
    • SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge - 14 September 2025
    • A Night with LIVIN, Powered by Snap Fitness - 03 October 2025
    • Men Matter Race Day Supporting LIVIN - 25 October 2025
    Volunteer
    • Volunteer For LIVIN
  • Who We Are

    Our Why

    #ITAINTWEAKTOSPEAK

    • About Us
    • Our Impact
    • Our Values
    • Our Partners
    • Media Enquiries
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter Signup
DONATE
  1. Home
  2. LIVIN News & Blogs
  3. When Progress Feels Slow, Despite Trying Your Best: Strategies for Pushing Through

LIVIN News & Blogs

When Progress Feels Slow, Despite Trying Your Best: Strategies for Pushing Through

5 Minutes Read | Posted in We asked our Psych | Posted during August 1, 2024

Most of us have experienced the frustration of putting in significant effort—day after day, managing work,  social stuff and family responsibilities—only to feel like we’re stuck on a treadmill, one of those shitty ones where the belt keeps slipping. Progress feels slow, sometimes nonexistent, sometimes backwards. Here are some strategies to help you keep moving forward.

Personal Accountability and Honest Self-Appraisal

True progress requires a clear-eyed view of your efforts and results. Personal accountability means taking ownership of your actions and their outcomes. This is closely related to defining ‘your best.’

Defining ‘Your Best’

  • ‘Your best’ can vary based on life experiences, circumstances and available resources.
  • It means consistently applying effort and focus, even when motivation wanes.
  • It involves pushing your boundaries while respecting your limits.

Practical Steps for Honest Self-Appraisal

  • Regularly assess your efforts against your defined goals.
  • Ask yourself: “Am I truly giving my all, or am I making excuses?” “Am I putting into action advice from those around me that are excelling or who I trust?”
  • Identify areas where you’re falling short and develop specific plans to improve.
  • Seek feedback from trusted mentors or peers to gain an external perspective.
  • Be willing to acknowledge and learn from failures or setbacks.

Honest self-appraisal isn’t about harsh self-criticism. It’s about clear-sighted evaluation to fuel growth and improvement. By holding yourself accountable and regularly reassessing your efforts, you ensure that ‘your best’ keeps evolving.

Reassess Your Goals: The SMART Approach

Are your goals realistic and specific enough? Research in goal-setting theory suggests that well-defined goals lead to better performance.

Practical Steps

  • Use the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
  • Write down your goals and review them regularly.
  • Adjust goals if they’re too ambitious or not challenging enough.

**Example**

  • Specific:** “I want to run a 5K.”
  • Measurable:** “I will track my runs with an app.”
  • Achievable:** “I will train three times a week.”
  • Relevant:** “Running helps me stay healthy.”
  • Time-bound:** “I will complete the 5K in two months.”

“A goal properly set is halfway reached.” – Zig Ziglar

Break It Down and Celebrate: The Progress Principle

Breaking larger goals into smaller, measurable tasks can significantly boost motivation and progress. This approach is known as the “progress principle.”

Practical Steps

  • Identify the smallest possible steps towards your goal.
  • Create a checklist of these micro-tasks.
  • Track your progress using a journal or habit-tracking app.
  • Celebrate each step forward (not talking benders here, but gentle pats on the back), no matter how small.
  • Share your wins with a supportive friend or community.

Practice Patience and Self-Compassion

  • Remind yourself that significant change often takes time.
  • Treat yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a good friend.
  • Use positive self-talk and challenge your inner critic.

By consciously replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, you can cultivate a more motivating and empowering mental environment. This ain’t fluff, this is a method for training your brain to stop being such a douche to you! 

E.g., “I can handle today, one step at a time.”

E.g., “I’ll focus on what I can control and let go of the rest.”

E.g., “I’m doing my best, and that’s enough.”

E.g., “Every day is a chance to improve, and I’m here for it.”

“Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” – Joyce Meyer

Be Flexible and Shift Your Approach. 

If one approach isn’t working, be willing to adjust your strategy. Research in psychological flexibility suggests that adaptable individuals are more resilient and successful in achieving their goals.

Practical Steps

  • Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of your current strategies.
  • Be open to trying new approaches.
  • Learn from setbacks and use them to inform your next steps.
  • Implement small changes and monitor their impact.

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” – Albert Einstein

Reframe Comparisons

  • Identify trusted individuals who can provide honest feedback.
  • Ask specific questions about your progress and areas for improvement.
  • Be open to learning about aspects of yourself you might not be aware of.
  • Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to others.
  • Keep a “progress journal” to document your evolution over time.

“The only person you should try to be better than is who you were yesterday.” – Jordan Peterson in one of his books, podcasts or YouTube series – can’t remember, but he said something similar.

Progress isn’t always linear. It’s normal to have ups and downs, plateaus, and breakthroughs. By applying these strategies, you can maintain momentum and push through periods when progress feels slow. 

Leave a comment

More ways to keep up to date:

Join the newsletter:

Sign up to LIVIN News

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Keep up to date with everything LIVIN – news, mental health blogs, we asked our psych content, events, LIVIN merch, and special discounts.

Want to get involved?

Buy apparel
Donate
Fundraising
Volunteer

Get more from the blog

    • About Us
    • Shop
    • Podcasts
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Addiction & Substance Use Disorder
    • Trauma & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Other Mental Health Conditions
    • Seeking Help
    • Find a Professional
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Forum
    • Covid-19 & Mental Health
    • Customer Support

LIVIN News & Blogs

Related Articles

2 Minutes Read | Posted in We asked our Psych

Why volunteering is good for your mental health

Every one of us has been helped or encountered a volunteer at some stage in our lives, we just may not know it because volunteers...

Continue reading
2 Minutes Read | Posted in We asked our Psych

Mindful drinking

Knocking off work early for a few social drinks on a Friday or catching up with some friends on a Sunday afternoon over a few drin...

Continue reading
2 Minutes Read | Posted in We asked our Psych

Socks 4 docs spreads awareness on mental health

Now more than ever the importance of our healthcare professionals has been in the spotlight as an overall appreciation of the incr...

Continue reading
  • Shop

    View All

    • New Arrivals
    • Best Sellers
    • Bundles
    • Hoodies & Sweaters
    • Unisex
    • Kids
    • View All

    Mens

    • Mens All

    Womens

    • Womens All

    Accessories

    • Car Stickers
    • Stationary
    • Headwear
  • Get Help

    Support

    • Getting Help
    • Crisis Support
    • Mental Health Services

    Animated Videos

    • Detective Duck

    Resources

    • We Asked Our Psych
    • Your Stories
    • News and Blogs
    • Downloadable Fact Sheets
  • Mental Health Programs

    Face To Face

    • LIVINWell Plus
    • LIVINWell In Work
    • LIVINWell In School
    • LIVINWell In Sport/Community

    Online

    • e-learning Mental Health Awareness Program
    • LIVINWell Online
  • Get Involved

    Donate

    • Donate to LIVIN
    • Regular Donation
    • One-Off Donation
    • Workplace Giving
    • Leaving A Gift In Your Will

    Fundraise

    • Create Your Own
    • LIVIN Charity Raffle - WIN This Ultimate Trailer
    • Charity Raffle - Play For Purpose
    • In Celebration
    • In Memory
    • Join a Fundraising Event

    Upcoming Events

    • Legacy Through LIVIN Charity Golf Day - 15 August 2025
    • Dreamworld Fun Run - 17 August 2025
    • SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge - 14 September 2025
    • A Night with LIVIN, Powered by Snap Fitness - 03 October 2025
    • Men Matter Race Day Supporting LIVIN - 25 October 2025

    Volunteer

    • Volunteer For LIVIN
  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Our Impact
    • Our Values
    • Our Partners
    • Media Enquiries
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter Signup
Sign up to LIVIN news

Keep up to date with everything LIVIN - news, mental health blogs, we asked our psych content, events, LIVIN merch, and special discounts.

Newsletter Signup

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Connect with us
  • ABOUT US
    • #itaintweaktospeak
    • Our Values
    • Our Impact
    • Our Partners
    • Media Enquiries
    • Contact Us
  • THE FACTS
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Addictions & Substance Use Disorder
    • Trauma & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Other Mental Health Conditions
  • GET HELP
    • Getting Help
  • ENGAGE
    • Book a Program
    • Fundraise
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Upcoming Events
  • LIVIN HUB
    • News & Blogs
    • Upcoming Events
    • Podcast
    • Your Stories
    • Resources
    • Customer Support
  • SITE LINKS
    • Contact
    • Donate
    • About Zip
  • SHOP
    • View All
    • Mens
    • Womens
    • Unisex
    • Kids
    • Accessories
    • Order Enquiries & Returns
    • Shipping
Head Office

Arundel, Queensland Australia 4214

Postal Address

3/52 Newheath Drive, Arundel, 4214

In loving memory of our friend Dwayne Lally, we miss you mate.

Donate

© 2021 LIVIN. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Wellbeing Policy
  • Shipping Policy
  • Returns Policy

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 HELP IS ALWAYS CLOSE Lifeline: 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 IT AIN'T WEAK TO SPEAK Emergency: 000 Open Arms – Veterans & Families: 1800 011 046 MensLine: 1300 789 978 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 HELP IS ALWAYS CLOSE Lifeline: 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 IT AIN'T WEAK TO SPEAK Emergency: 000 Open Arms – Veterans & Families: 1800 011 046 MensLine: 1300 789 978 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 HELP IS ALWAYS CLOSE Lifeline: 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 IT AIN'T WEAK TO SPEAK Emergency: 000 Open Arms – Veterans & Families: 1800 011 046 MensLine: 1300 789 978 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 HELP IS ALWAYS CLOSE Lifeline: 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 IT AIN'T WEAK TO SPEAK Emergency: 000 Open Arms – Veterans & Families: 1800 011 046 MensLine: 1300 789 978