Building Effective Habits and Overcoming Plateaus

bit by bit

gradually

______________, I was starting to change my mind.

zone out

to stop paying attention, for example because you are bored or tired

He tends to _______________ when I talk to him about my job.

bits and pieces

any small things of various kinds

Let me get all my ___________ together.

quality time

the time that you spend giving someone your full attention, especially time that you spend with your children when you are not busy

Do you spend enough __________ with your children?

content

happy and satisfied

Andy was a good husband, and Nicky was clearly very __________.

make up for

to make a bad situation better, or replace something that has been lost (compensate)

I don’t eat breakfast but I ____________ it at lunch.

be (stuck) between a rock and a hard place

to have a choice between two things, both of which are unpleasant or dangerous

silver bullet

something that solves a difficult problem very quickly and easily

There is no __________ for this problem.

benchmark

something that is used as a standard by which other things can be judged or measured

results that are used as a _________ of success

consistent

always behaving in the same way or having the same attitudes, standards etc – usually used to show approval

She’s the team’s most_________ player.

stick to

To continue doing something despite difficulties or distractions.

If you want to see results, you need to _________your new routine for at least a few months.

push through

To continue doing something despite obstacles or difficulties.

When you hit a plateau, it’s important to ___________ and keep working towards your goal.

fell off the wagon

To return to a bad habit after a period of improvement.

I ___________ last week and skipped all my workouts.

get into the groove

To establish a good rhythm or routine.

It can take a few weeks to ___________ of a new habit, but once you do, it becomes easier.

broke new ground

To make progress in a new or difficult activity

After months of plateauing, I finally ____________ by trying a new training method.

hit a wall

To reach a point where progress seems impossible.

Many people __________after a few weeks of progress, but pushing through that phase is essential.

step up your game

To improve the quality of your work or effort.

If you want to overcome your plateau, you need to ___________ and increase your effort.

make or break

Something that is crucial to success or failure.

Building effective habits can ___________ your ability to achieve long-term success.