“Just be consistent.”
You’ve heard this advice a million times—from entrepreneurs, athletes, and coaches to successful business owners. And they’re absolutely right. Consistency is the real game-changer, the common thread behind every major success story. But here’s the catch: no one tells you how to stay consistent. Life gets busy. Motivation fades. Discipline wavers. Consistency breaks. I’ve struggled with this too—whether it was growing my blog, launching my SaaS projects, or building my personal brand. Through trial and error, I’ve discovered seven practical strategies that have helped me stay consistent even when things got tough.
1. The Power of Daily Habits Over Random Efforts
Most people think taking breaks will make it easier to be consistent, but the truth is the opposite. Doing something every single day is easier than doing it most days.
When I was writing for UnstuckWay, my blog, I initially wrote only when I “felt like it.” But that didn’t work—I lacked consistency. The real shift happened when I made writing a daily habit, even if it was just 100 words. Writing every day became part of my identity, and eventually, it turned into a routine.
When you do something daily, it stops feeling like a choice and becomes automatic.
Action Step: Pick one habit and commit to doing it every day, even in the smallest way possible.
2. Push Yourself to Show Up, But Be Flexible in Execution
People often say you have to either be strict or forgiving with yourself—but the truth is, you need both.
I use the ABC System to stay consistent:
- A Goal – Ideal scenario (e.g., writing 1000 words/day)
- B Goal – Realistic base goal (e.g., 500 words/day)
- C Goal – Minimum viable effort (e.g., writing just one sentence)
This system saved me when I was launching my SaaS projects while balancing client work. Some days, I could put in 5+ hours, while other days, I barely managed 15 minutes. But because I showed up every day, my projects moved forward.
Action Step: Create your ABC Goals so you always have a fallback plan.
3. Win the Morning, Win the Day
Your willpower fades as the day progresses. The best way to stay consistent is to tackle important tasks early in the morning before distractions creep in.
I saw this firsthand when I started freelancing as a Growth Strategist. At first, I worked on client projects late at night after my day job. It was exhausting, and I often skipped days. The game changed when I switched to mornings—I had more focus, energy, and momentum.
Action Step: Identify the habit you want to build and do it first thing in the morning.
4. Accountability: The Secret to Staying on Track
Consistency can feel lonely, and self-motivation isn’t always enough. That’s why peer accountability is a game-changer.
When I started posting content on LinkedIn about Product Growth, I made a deal with a friend—we would check in every day by simply sending a “DONE” message when we completed our daily post. That one small system kept me accountable and helped me build a content habit.
Action Step: Find a partner and create a Consistency Chat to check in daily.
5. Small Wins Lead to Big Changes
Trying to do too much too fast leads to burnout. Instead, use progressive overload—start small and gradually increase effort.
When I launched my Medium blog, I initially committed to writing for just 5 minutes a day. Once that became easy, I increased it to 15 minutes, then 30. Over time, I built the muscle to write high-quality, long-form articles consistently.
Action Step: Start with the smallest version of your habit and scale it up over time.
6. Bounce Back Fast—No Overcompensation
Mistakes happen. You’ll miss a day at some point. But trying to “make up for it” by doing twice as much the next day only makes things worse.
I learned this lesson the hard way when I skipped a week of writing. To “compensate,” I tried writing 10 articles in one go—burned myself out—and ended up skipping another week. Instead, I should have simply resumed my normal pace.
Action Step: If you miss a day, just get back to your routine without overcompensating.
7. Play the Long Game—Focus on the Trend, Not the Moment
It’s easy to compare your progress to others, but consistency isn’t about where you are today—it’s about where you’re heading.
When I started freelancing as a Growth Consultant, I had zero clients. For months, my outreach efforts seemed to go nowhere. But instead of quitting, I focused on small improvements: refining my pitch, testing different messaging, and staying consistent.
Eventually, things clicked. I landed my first client, then another, and now freelancing is a key revenue stream for me.
Action Step: Zoom out. Focus on progress over time, not immediate results.
Just Keep Showing Up
Consistency isn’t about being perfect—it’s about managing imperfection and showing up anyway.
- Show up when it’s hard.
- Show up when you don’t feel like it.
- Show up when no one’s watching.
You can’t lose if you just keep showing up.
