Do you ever look at your “to-do” list and wonder how you are going to get it all done? Are you experiencing more and more days slipping by because you are lacking in motivation to get anything done? Do you end up wondering where the hours, days, weeks, and sometimes months went?
Most of us have a hard time getting motivated, especially if we have to tackle tasks that we don’t particularly enjoy. Too bad we can’t stockpile motivation to gain momentum and keep us going so we can get through our to-do lists faster than ever.
The problem with motivation is that you either have it or you don’t; there isn’t much of a middle ground. But all hope is not lost, even if you feel like inspiration is something that has long since been missing in your life.
The first thing you need to do is to find someone who has the motivational qualities you desire for yourself. It could be a family member, friend, colleague, or someone special in your life. Model yourself after this individual and consider chatting with them about their passion and motivation. When you talk to this person, tell him or her that you’d love to learn their motivation secrets. You may find that having this conversation with your role model will help to inspire you into action. We all can use some personal support, so step outside of your comfort zone and give this a try!
It’s amazing to experience a relationship where a mentor or life coach intently listens to your desires and guides you to achieve them. I consider it an honor to encourage and motivate clients to maintain a healthy, happy, inspired lifestyle, recognize their progress, and provide valuable insight that enables them to grow.
Relaxation can also help you get moving, as strange as it may seem! Many people find that creativity and inspiration mysteriously disappear when they are stressed out or under immense pressure. This is also true if you are lacking sleep or are working long hours without a break. If you take a nap you may wake up with a heightened level of motivation.
Take a mental vacation if you find that high amounts of stress are draining you of your motivation. Go shopping for a couple of hours, read a book, go for a nature walk, or call a friend. Taking a break may seem like the counterintuitive thing to do, but your motivation will likely come back as you reduce the amount of stress or pressure in your life.
When you are lacking motivation, you may find that you may simply need to clean house! This may involve cleaning your desk or completely clearing your mind of negative thoughts. Some people thrive in chaos, but most of us work better when our minds and our spaces are free of clutter and unnecessary “stuff.” You just might find your motivation there, waiting for you underneath all the mess!
Motivational affirmations are another great way to get in the right mindset to make progress. A positive statement such as, “I feel alive, energized and motivated to take on any task in front of me.” or, “I wake up motivated and ready to face the day” and/or “I am easily motivated” just may be the spark that you need to find inspiration. These statements will rewire your brain in a positive way. Doing so will help you find motivation in times of doubt or procrastination. Give it a good old-fashioned try; you just might be surprised by the results!
Once you get going, you will probably discover that motivation feeds on itself. Once you are up, moving and doing, and seeing progress toward your goals you may find that it is much easier to get going again tomorrow.
