Feeling motivated every day probably isn’t something that comes naturally to you. It can be difficult to jump out of bed feeling positive and productive day after day, but it’s important that you try your best and to realize that life has ups and downs! Whether you’re aiming towards a weight loss goal or you simply just want to get through your to-do list each day, being motivated can help you get there a lot easier.
It’s often said there are two types of people in the world; those who are content with what they have, and those who strive for more. Here, Wellbeing365 offers some advice on what it takes to become the latter. Remember though that striving for more doesn’t have to mean materialistically, it can be more family time or more time to do things that you want to do.
What is motivation?
Motivation can be a huge driver in your life and help you achieve your goals, as well as helping you to enjoy the things in your life more. This can turn your responsibilities into less of a chore, instead making it more meaningful. Motivation essentially provides you with the energy you need to focus and help you create momentum to keep making progress.
When you lack motivation, you will naturally find yourself more distracted and more prone to procrastination. It’s important to find out what drives you and how you can harness this to keep you moving towards your purpose.
Review your goals
If you’re struggling to stay motivated, it might be time to reassess what it is you’re hoping to achieve. Is it still your number one priority, or have your goals changed since you last set them? Are you still interested in the same purpose? If your heart isn’t really in it, it’s no wonder you’re finding it difficult to stay motivated.
Wake up each day and go over your goals or to-do list and decide which is going to be most achievable that day. It can be something small if needs be, as long as it’s something you can feel confident in ticking off by the end of the day.
Get rid of any distractions
It’s easy to lose your motivation when there are so many other things going on around you. Make sure you remove as many distractions as you can before you get started, whether it’s an exercise class or settling down to work. Remove any unnecessary clutter and create a tidy space for your mind to focus in.
It can also be helpful to leave your phone in another room or to turn it off completely. Consider creating different spaces for different tasks, as this can help you to maintain your motivation and make better progress.
Make yourself accountable
If you’re planning to go for a run, tell someone that’s what you’re going to do. Or if you’re hoping to complete a task by a certain time, ask someone to check in on you to see whether you’ve managed it. This is a way of making yourself accountable for ticking those jobs off your to-do list, and it could help you to stay motivated.
After all, there is a great sense of accomplishment when someone asks you if you did your tasks, and you can confidently respond with yes. It might just help you to stay focused until the job is done.
Use others to help motivate you
Some people find it much easier to stay motivated with music playing in the background, while others prefer to listen to a podcast. In other words, sometimes other people can play a role in keeping you motivated through the day. It could be lyrics from a particular song that keeps you going, or watching a motivational speech before you start your day.
It can help to sharpen your mind and remind yourself why you are trying to stay motivated in the first place.
Take a break
If nothing else seems to be working and you feel like you’re hitting your head against a brick wall, take a break. This can prevent you from feeling tired and burnt out, giving you a chance to press reset.
Consider taking short breaks after you’ve completed each task, and be sure to spend your evening or weekend switching off and giving yourself some time to relax if you need it, which we all do from time to time.