Do you know what the problem with motivation is? Once you find it, it doesn’t stay unless you keep working at it. Some days are harder than others to stay motivated. I don’t believe that the main problem is in how to get motivated, I think it’s about staying motivated.
Motivation is about the desire to do things. If you are motivated, waking up earlier won’t stay an obstacle because you have that desire. The fact that you are missing out on that new show to keep working on your project won’t even cross your mind. The trick is, “how do you stay there?”
Motivation needs to come from within. It can be fueled by your environment or outside sources, but it will not stay ignited unless you keep that fire burning. The trick is in finding a system that helps you keep that burning desire lit up. Once you find what works, keep repeating those same behaviors that got you motivated in the first place. Develop that habit.
I was having supper with my network the other day and we were talking about what helped recharge us. For one, it was building custom baskets and for another it was gardening. If I were to do either of those things, it would deplete my energy not recharge it. It is the same thing with motivation. What works for one may not work for another, so don’t get discouraged. Find out what works for you.
If you are looking for ideas, read this list and try them out. Find one or a few that work for you.
7 Simple Ways to Get Motivated and Stay There:
- Create New Habits
Creating new habits is one of the most important steps you can take to stay motivated. We all have bad habits that deter us from achieving success. This creates discouragement and decreases our level of motivation. Choose one bad habit today that you will replace with a good habit.
- Recharge
It’s hard to stay ignited when you are running on fumes. Science has proven that it is no longer “cool” to run on as little sleep as possible. Proper nutrition and sleep is like the foundation of any strong building.
- Small Steps, Big Changes
My sons get their assigned homework for the week every Monday. When my oldest things about all the pages he has to complete in each subject, he gets discouraged. When he focuses instead on what he wants to accomplish on a daily basis in order to complete his assignments on time, his motivation level increases greatly.
Creating and aiming for BIG goals is important in order to stretch yourself and grow. Keep your mind on the prize but focus on the small steps that will get you there. You will be amazed at what small steps can add up to.
- Reward
Setting up milestones will also allow you to create reward systems once you achieve a mini goal. Rewarding yourself can give you the boost of confidence needed to make it to the next goal.
- Accountability Partner
Sharing your goals and making it public can be a strong motivator. One key element is ensuring that you share them with the right people. Share your goals with those who will question and challenge you on your progress and encourage you through the tough moments. Having an accountability partner in establishing the right habits can make all the difference.
- Invest in yourself
Do you want to be motivated enough to “grind” no matter how difficult it gets? Find a way to visualize and keep it top of mind. Invest in yourself and set time aside to motivate yourself. Whether it be through reading, listening to music or going for a walk, set time aside to daily inject some motivation.
- Gratitude injects a positive attitude
A simple but powerful way to stay motivated is to practice gratitude on a daily basis. When you become a master at being grateful, you focus less on the things you don’t have. For more on the power of gratitude, read my blog post on, “A lesson in gratitude that become viral”.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie
The title of this post is, “7 SIMPLE ways to get motivated and stay there”. Why simple? None of the 7 ideas are difficult to do. You don’t need to be an expert or have a degree to know how to do any of them. However, simple does not equate to easy. It is easy not to do as well. It is hard work to change a habit or behavior. That’s why there are so many books written on the subject. People are still searching for ways to stay motivated.
What habits or behavior will you commit to today in order to boost your motivation?
Our lives can get pretty hectic and it can be easy to get lost in our actions. When we are so focused on what is ahead, we forget to pause, reflect and find ways to energize our minds. These 5-minute motivation posts are meant to give you that recharge. The goal is to give you a 5-minute Vitamin for your mind through quotes, posts and videos. It is also meant to challenge your thinking and inspire you to take action.