If you find that you can’t bring yourself to go through the necessary actions to reach your goals, then you more than likely lack motivation. Motivation isn’t something that is simply found; you have to make it happen. If you find yourself in a rut, here are some practical ways to drive yourself forward to accomplish your goals and change your life.
Tip #1 – Make a Deal with Yourself
If you want to overcome procrastination and start getting things done, you need to make a deal with yourself. This deal can be either big or small. For example, you can tell yourself, “When I’m done with these reports, I can take a walk in the park and enjoy some ice cream.” Giving yourself something fun to do once you complete your task can keep you motivated to get things done.
Tip #2 – Leave Yourself Messages in the Morning
There may be mornings when you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see. This can quickly kill any motivation you have and quickly ruin your day. To avoid this issue, find a message that will inspire you to be your best, even if you don’t look or feel it. Using a dry-erase marker, write the self-affirming message on your bathroom mirror. This will help build your self-image and help you start your day on a positive note.
Tip #3 – Don’t Hit the Snooze Button
One phrase that can quickly zap your motivation is, “Just five more minutes.” When you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock, you’re starting the day off by procrastinating the inevitable task of getting up and going. Having an extra five minutes in bed in the morning isn’t going to do you any favors and will kill your motivation. Get up and take the day on.
Tip #4 – Practice Positive Self Talk
If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, start practicing positive self-talk. When your alarm goes off in the morning, instead of grumbling and hitting the snooze button, tell yourself, “I can do this!” By affirming yourself in this way, it will make it easier for you to get out of bed and get going in the mornings.
Tip #5 – Stay on a Regular Schedule
Knowing what to expect can keep you motivated, which is why it’s important to know your daily schedule and stick with it as much as you possibly can. While things do happen that can interrupt a schedule, knowing that you have one planned and in place can make it much easier to keep on track and still stay productive during the day.
Tip #6 – Breakfast is Key
Eating a healthy and balanced breakfast is the key to starting your day out right. Food is energy, so by eating in the morning and choosing the right types of foods, you will remain focused on your daily tasks and goals. Even when you feel pressed for time, have a go-to meal that will give you the nutrition you need to start your day off right. Breakfast is the one meal that is skipped by far too many and it is arguably the most important meal of the day.
Tip #7 – Have a Morning Routine
Having a morning routine can help you gain motivation to propel you into the rest of your day. Knowing what to expect and knowing that once it’s done what comes next will help you make it through your day. Changes in your routine can make it difficult to think clearly and have a productive day. However, doing the same general activities in the same order can help you get going.
Tip #8 – Participate in Morning Exercise
Taking a morning walk or heading to the gym first thing in the morning can increase your motivation for the rest of the day. Regular exercise can improve your blood flow and keep you from feeling sleepy or lethargic throughout your day. Even participating in a simple stretching routine in the morning can help to increase your blood flow and get you moving.
Tip #9 – Take One Step at a Time
Concentrate on one action at a time. If you think about everything you have to do, then your energy levels will feel even lower. Take your routine one step at a time and don’t focus on what you have left to do. When you only focus on immediate action, you won’t mentally deplete what energy you have left.
Tip #10 – Keep Moving Forward
Once you get moving, keep moving. Energy isn’t something that lives in a bottle and can be taken on a whim. Sometimes you have to force yourself to keep going. Maintaining your momentum increases the chances that you will continue to be productive and finish what you started out to accomplish in the first place. Don’t fool yourself by telling yourself that you’ll be able to do it later. This is nothing more than procrastinating and will ultimately leave a lot of unwanted tasks sitting on the back burner.
Tip #11 – Reward Yourself
When you are faced with a difficult task or situation, setting up a reward for when you complete it successfully can help you remain motivated. Rewarding yourself for completing difficult tasks can keep you motivated to keep going with the job and accomplish it in the time frame you’ve set.
Tip #12 – Leave Yourself Notes
Leaving yourself encouraging notes in places that you often look at can make you feel better about yourself. Writing encouraging notes to yourself can help to remind you that you can do it and make it through whatever challenges that life throws in your direction.
Tip #13 – Track Your Progress
When your list of to-dos seems longer than what you have completed, take a moment and think of everything that you’ve accomplished during a certain period. While you may not be where you wanted to be at that moment, you need to remind yourself that you completed some of your tasks. Giving yourself that small pat on the back will help to keep you motivated and help you to continue with whatever tasks you still need to complete.
Tip #14 – Make Small Goals
It is extremely easy to feel overwhelmed when you set your standards and your goals too high. Setting small and attainable goals from the start will help you stay motivated when you reach them so that you can move on to the next step. When you set your goals too high, to begin with, you can become discouraged too easily and feel overwhelmed.
Tip #15 – Work on One Project at a Time
You may think that multitasking is a good idea until you realize you have unfinished projects on your list. Not only do you still have to complete each of the projects, but it makes you feel like you can’t even achieve one. To keep your motivation, you need to focus completely on finishing one project at a time, seeing it through to the end before you begin the next one. Not only will this keep your motivation because you’ve achieved what you set out to do, but you will become more productive.
Tip #16 – Turn to Others
Those around you can be great resources when it comes to finding your motivation. Find some supportive friends and family who can help you achieve your overall goal and provide you with the motivation you need when the going gets tough.
Tip #17 – Clear Your Mind
When you start to feel completely overwhelmed, it’s best to step away from the situation and take a deep breath. Allow your mind to relax and clear itself from the stress that it might be currently experiencing. Going into something with a clear mind will provide you with the fresh perspective that you need to help you stay motivated and productive.
Tip #18 – Think of Things that Energize You
If you lack energy, you can think about things that energize and motivate you to give you the necessary boost to get moving. Using whatever the thought is that will drive you, allow it to replay through your mind over and over again as you pursue the not-so-pleasant tasks that you might be facing when you’re less than motivated and lack energy.
Tip #19 – Listening to Upbeat Music
Music has the uncanny ability to dictate your mood. Upbeat and positive music can help you get going when you have low motivation. Try finding upbeat music that you like to listen to and play when you lack energy and motivation and see if it won’t have a positive effect on your motivation and energy.
Tip #20 – Find Your Mantra
A mantra doesn’t have to be long; it just has to get you excited. When you lack energy and feel unmotivated, it’s those few words that remind you what matters to you and get you to take action toward achieving the goals you’ve set for yourself.