As we all have experienced, some days you wake up motivated and ready to go. And some days things feel heavy as you start the day and it is hard to get going and find that inner drive.
At least in my experience.
I have found some simple and smart strategies that work for me to get back into the right groove, get motivated and get things done.
Here are 13 of my favorite tips and habits for doing just that.
1. Fail Forward
Remember with each failure you are getting closer to your goal. I see this so much with my clients – they are afraid of failing so they never get started. Guess what? YOU WILL FAIL. We all do!
You try something and it didn’t work out the way you have planned. That’s okay. Just keep moving forward and try again.
I have failed so many times in life, or what appeared to be failures. In fact, they were just life lessons that taught me to do things better or to change things around. Don’t let the fear of failing stop you.
2. Let Motivation Catch Up With You
You don’t have to wait for motivation to get started. If you want to work in a consistent way every day then sometimes you just have to get going anyway.
And the funny thing is that after I have worked for a while things feel easier and easier and more fun and the motivation catches up with me.
3. Start Small
If a project or task feels too big and daunting don’t let that lead you into procrastination.
Instead, break it down into small steps, and then take just one of them to start moving forward. It doesn’t matter how small the task just get started.
4. Put the Phone Down
Or whatever distracts you….Reduce your daily distractions.
When you have easily accessible distractions all around you then it becomes hard to focus.
So shut the door to your office or your workspace. Put your smart phone in silent mode or away from your immediate vision. Something that helps me is to go to a coffee shop, put my earbuds in, turn on motivating music and dive into work.
5. Get a Business Coach
Or an accountability partner that will help you stay on track with your goals. Met with them weekly, bi monthly or monthly so you have someone to keep you accountable to what you want to achieve. By doing this you’ll be a lot less likely to try to weasel out of things or give up at the first obstacle.
6. Surround Yourself With Positive People
Choose your friends wisely and spend time with people who motivate you, encourage you and support you and your dreams.
Spend less time with negative people who always look at the dark or apathetic side of things.
7. Get Motivation From Outside Sources
There are a ton of books, motivational quotes, podcasts, blogs and success stories out there that you can tap into to up or renew your motivation.
This has been a great way for me to tap into my own motivation especially during this time of quarantine and spending more time by myself.
8. Play Music That Gives You Energy
This is a big one for me. One of the simplest things I do when I feel low in energy or motivation is to play music that is upbeat and/or inspires me in some way.
A break with a few songs or working while listening to them for a while usually works well.
9. Find The Optimism
Look at the positive side of life. Positive and constructive way of looking at things can energize and recharge your motivation.
So when you’re in what looks like a negative situation ask yourself questions like:
What’s one thing that’s good about this? And what’s one hidden opportunity here? What is this teaching me?
Remember pessimism can drain both your motivation and energy.
10. Be Kind To Yourself
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of beating yourself when you stumble or fail. We ALL FAIL! Just remember you are failing forward. Just let it go and move on.
Next time you stumble or feel like you failed: be kind to yourself, nudge yourself back on the path you were on and take one small step forward.
11. Stop Comparing Yourself To Others
Only Compare yourself to yourself and see how far you have come.
We are all on our own journey with our own unique life and life lessons. By comparing ourselves with others we only fall into the dark hole of would of, could of, should of and that will NEVER get you where you what to be and will certainly keep you down and in the dark side of life.
12. Remind Yourself Of Your Why
What is your why?? When you’re feeling unmotivated and low in energy it’s easy to lose sight of why you’re doing something.
So take 2 minutes and write down your top 3 reasons for doing this work, getting an education, working out, saving that extra money or whatever it may be.
I put a reminder on my phone that alerts me every morning and everynight of my why. It is short and simple but everytime I see it I am reminded of why I do what I do and what I am working towards.
13. Always Be Grateful
When motivation is running low it’s easy to start seeing your life and the aspects of it through a negative lens. I call it going to the dark side.
When this starts to happen, stop and write down 3 things you are thankful for right then and there.
When you focus on what you have and who you are and are thankful your motivation and energy shifts. Remember there is always something to be thankful for in your life. I recommend writing down every morning three things you are grateful for in your life. Do this everyday and within no time there will be a shift in your energy. u were on and take one small step forward.
