The journey to reaching a long-term goal involves a whirlwind of emotions. Staying motivated for the long-haul can certainly be challenging at times, especially when we compare it to reaching our short-term goals.

Your goal may be financial, such as saving money to buy your first home, travel the world, or support a child through university. Or it could be more personal, like learning a language or losing weight. Whatever it is, here are the five stages you’ll inevitably encounter; click on ‘what to do’ for suggestions on how to overcome them…