13 Ways to Stay Motivated

Motivation is not easy to come by for some. For others, it is sporadic. To some people it is almost non-existent and for others, who have mastered these skills, it is abundant.

Regardless of which category you fall under at this moment, it is a daily challenge not only to become better motivated, but to keep that motivation going. Motivation is not some random phenomenon. It is either instinctively known, or for those who aren’t as lucky, it can be learned.

Use these strategies to give yourself a boost of motivation when needed…

1. Get started and the motivation will come. Sometimes all it takes is showing up, even when you don’t want to. Show up no matter what and you will be more motivated once you get there and prove to yourself that you can overcome the mental part of not “feeling” motivated. Emotions are overrated.

2. Organize your space. It can be difficult to feel motivated when you are trying to work in a cluttered area. The reason is that this causes confusion. Spend a few minutes and tidy up your space.

3. Avoid worrying about things that don’t matter. Keep your mind on track by using self-discipline to control your thoughts. This is not as extreme as it sounds. When you worry or are slowed down by things that really don’t matter, your motivation will drop. Write a list of productive activities and whenever you feel like you are too focused on something that doesn’t matter, pull out the list and hit one of those activities to get back on track.

4. Focus on only a few tasks each day. This is what Jeff Bezos talks about often. He only has one of two important tasks each day and he tackles them mid-morning and into the afternoon, when he knows he is most productive. Shorten your to-do list and you will feel less overwhelmed. Feeling overwhelmed tends to decrease motivation.

5. Watch an inspiring video. Avoid the news, etc. that reports bad news. Don’t waste your time watching videos all day either, but when you feel a drop in motivation, watching a short motivational video can help get that motivation back.

6. Listen to your hype music. Some people can listen to certain songs and completely change their moods. Singing has also been proven to heighten mood and raise tone level. Put on some good music, jam out, and then get things done!

7. Read inspiring quotes or books. When you are feeling down and without motivation, sometimes reading a good book will help. A few inspirational quotes or maybe a chapter of some really good content will be enough to light your fire.

8. Set short term goals. Setting short term goals can mean a week in the future or even 10 minutes from now. Set a goal and see how much you can get done toward that goal. If you do this enough times each day, you will be amazed at how much work you can get done.

9. Remind yourself of your past success. If you are lacking in motivation, it can sometimes be due to uncertainty or doubting yourself. Remember how well you have done in the past just to re-prove to yourself that you have what it takes. Give yourself a boost of confidence and you will feel more motivated.

10. List the advantages of completing the task at hand. What are the advantages of getting the task complete? What benefits will you receive; will others benefit as well? Reminding yourself of the good things you are actually doing will increase your motivation.

11. List the disadvantages. Use pain to your advantage here. What are the penalties of not getting the task done? How will you feel if you don’t complete it? What are the negative consequences? You can gain a lot of motivation by recognizing the advantages and disadvantages of taking, or not taking, enough action.

12. Motivate yourself with an award. Give yourself something to look forward to if you finish certain tasks. The most calls I have ever made in a day were made because I promised myself a gift if I finished, and I did.

13. Visualize success. See yourself being successful and experience, in your mind, how great it will feel. If you expect to feel good about something, you will be likely to do it.

When you are low on motivation, don’t worry! Just refer to this list and try out a few to regain certainty in why you are even doing it in the first place. Motivation is temporary, that is why it is necessary to reestablish it on a regular basis. Motivation is the juice that allows us to get things accomplished. Knowing how to generate motivation within yourself is the key to all of your dreams. Knowing how to generate motivation within you is a powerful skill. Master it!