Consistency beats everyone and everything at El Dorado Hills Jiu Jitsu

     Sorry everyone. I've been swamped with grad school, teaching Jiu-Jitsu, family life, teaching as a grad assistant, and the excuses go on and on and on! As a result, I've had to put off my online journal, my writing, or blogging as others call it. It's not that I don't enjoy doing it. I just have so many things going on each and everyday, by the time I realize I haven't done certain things its 10:00 o'clock at night. AND I'M NOT EVEN HOME YET! So, this year has started off with much thinking about how can I (and as a result, how can I help the people around me) be consistent. When I talk about consistent, some might think it only applies to training martial arts, jiujitsu, or self defense, but I hope these apply to many areas off the mat as well.

     Consistency is difficult when we never establish what we define as consistent. We really need to make things a priority in our life to be consistent at something. It doesn't matter if that we are consistent once a week, twice a week, or even once a month. Therefore, establish what you mean by consistency. Be able to know at the beginning of the week that you are going to do XYZ and be happy (give yourself a pat on the back) when you meet those consistency marks. That should be your first marker for evaluating whether or not you are doing a "good job." It's also important to know what your limits are. If you decide to train jiujitsu 5 times a week, but are going to be out of town where there is no jiujitsu school, then you are only setting yourself up for failure. In this case making slight changes will help you accomplish your weekly consistency marker. Instead of training jiujitsu be your mark of success, change it to train 5 times a week. Where training could include a hike, bike, swim, jog, etc. be creative with how you set your consistency markers. That is very important.

     Something that helps us establish consistency is routine. If you are able to establish a regular routine, some call it a schedule, you will begin to understand that consistency is less of a challenge. What makes things difficult is that most of us don't have a regular work schedule or school schedule that stays consistent. It is especially important for those that fit in that category to go over a schedule on a weekly or monthly basis so they know when they are doing what. Getting a simple planner to keep with you is highly recommended.

    If you're having a difficult time with this even after you start, don't worry. The important ingredient in all of this is to keep trying, and keep woking on finding consistency. There are many CEO and elite business people who have secretaries for this very reason. It can seem very simple, and even unimportant, but necessary if you are finding yourself in need of more time at the end of the day, or missing out of key things you would like to be consistent with.

See you on the mat! 

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills Jiu Jitsu 

916.595.4064