What do YOU feel when I say “Get Motivated”? Does it fire your inner drive or have you lost sight of that?
It happens to the best us… One day, we just wake up lacking the energy to do anything. Not wanting to go out of bed, not wanting to stay in it either.
The good news is – that’s normal. That’s the stuff of life, so to speak.
What is not normal though is getting entangled with lack of energy, lack of drive, lack of motivation. What is not normal is to continuously talk yourself into not doing anything. But what do you do when all the drive inside of you has packed up and left?
Maybe the following recommendations will help…
Think of the worst-case scenario – We’ve all been told that envisioning success is a good motivator. Now, why not do the exact opposite? Why not envision a future that is bleak, hopeless and stripped off all happiness and success. Why not envision yourself living eternally in a rut where sense of accomplishment and a tiny hope are nonexistent?
Scary, right? Few people realize that they already own a one-way ticket towards this very vision. Now what you need to do is to get off your butt and work your way out of the train wreck you are headed toward. Turn your life around and work for a goal. THAT is getting motivated.
Set a date for change and commit to it – Change must come to everyone of us. Sometimes it is forced upon us, sometimes we choose when it will happen. It is always much more preferential to have control over the change that happens.
If the change you are seeking requires a specific date on the calendar, then set it. Make a huge, red circle around the date and stick with it. Let this serve as a motivator to start doing the things you should have done weeks, months or years ago. Let this chosen date serve as the new beginning of your life.
Break your routine – When you’re doing the same old thing day in and day out, sooner or later, the energy that you once had will disappear. No matter how passionate you were with your work, project, or goal when you were just beginning, you’ll suffer from lack of motivation once your body senses that it is doing the same thing each and every day.
Don’t be afraid to break the routine once in a while. Quit work for a full day. Stop doing your routine for a week. Take a month-long vacation. Take on a new hobby. These can help energize you and rekindle your zest and drive. And while you’re taking your break from your routine, don’t lose faith that you’ll have the same kind of energy you once had by the time you get back to work.
Don’t lose sight of your goals – It is easy to lose your focus when there is too much distraction around. Whether it’s the kids, clutter at your work area, Twitter or Facebook, you will find that these simple things remind you of other things that can drive your concentration away from the task at hand. To prevent yourself from killing your own motivation, always try to stick with your goals and shut out whatever it is that it trying to reduce it.
| Feeling Stuck? |
|
The Key to Feeling Prosperous is Having a Savvy Plan in Place so You Can Get Out of That Sense of Being Stuck and on the Fast Track to Success… To get all the details of my new Coaching Program |
Great post, Moira! I’ve had those days…way too many! The tips you suggest are helpful. I love this: ” Don’t lose sight of your goals.” Thank you!
Thanks Alexandra – yes sometimes that’s all it takes to stay on track… getting back to your *WHY*!
Deadlines are the secret sauce. There’s nothing like a good ole deadline to light a fire under me! It’s temporary motivation, of course, but works!
I agree Martha :). I perform well under the pressure of a deadline too… even if that deadline is set by me!
I think the trick is breaking your routine like you mentioned. When you leave your comfort zone, you learn to stretch your comfort zone you grow as a person.
Thanks Tom! Yes, a break in the routine tends to keep you in the present moment which adds to your power doesn’t it!
Thanks for the great reminders of how to stay motivated!
Thanks Meryl!
Excellent tips, Moira! I especially like, “Don’t lose sight of your goals.” It is too easy to get distracted. I needed to hear this today 🙂
Glad to hear it Robin! I agree that it’s easy to get distracted :).
Thankyou for all your tips Moira. Keeping focused and motivated does take commitment and energy, but it’s always worth it in the end!
It absolutely is Carolyn! Thanks for that.
Motivation is definitely key to getting things done. I tell this to my alternative high school students regularly because most of them to come to our program because of lack of motivation. I find that lists help me to stay motivated as I cross things out:)
Yes Daniele – seeing things getting crossed off my list is a great motivator for me also! Thanks for your comments :).
Love the combination of intuitive and counter-intuitive approaches you bring to this, Moira. Sometimes it takes a real push-pull to keep us moving forward!
Yes Sharon – a push-pull approach to getting shifting forward is a powerful way to get things actually rolling :).
This is so awesome! Thanks for the inspiration! It’s hard to stay motivated when you can’t see an end! The goal setting is key!
Thanks Elizabeth – yes goal setting gives a great focal point doesn’t it!
This is a great list for something that’s so important to keep fresh – motivation – thanks so much, Moira! I sure find breaking my routine a huge help.
Don’t lose sight of your goals – that is the one for me. Keep yourself motivated, fresh. Doesn’t matter if the end is not in sight! 🙂