Staying motivated and disciplined when it comes to a long-term goal is tough. Right at the start, passion fuels us and the idea of accomplishing a goal gets us to take the necessary steps. However, over time that can drop off and reality sinks in. It gets harder and harder to continue the grind and then the goal we originally set seems almost impossible. Earlier this year, I set a goal to improve my skating skills. As with most things, it’s easier said than done. Since I’m no longer “training for the Olympics” like I was when I was younger, it’s harder to justify spending time at the rink when I could be working. So far, Johnny and I skate pretty regularly, but we are not always getting as much time on the ice as we should.

I want to share five ways to stay motivated despite challenges that may come your way. A few of which are things I developed from when I was a competitive figure skater. Some are from the grit of being a reporter. Others are just lessons life taught me in order for me to succeed.