Learning the Skill of Self-Motivation

You wouldn’t be alone if you said that you sometimes struggle finding the motivation to get things done. The biggest misconception is that motivation will simply drop into your lap and everything will be wonderful. Unfortunately, that's not at all how the world works. Even when it comes to motivation: you must be proactive! The ability to motivate yourself is necessary if you want to be successful. Everyone struggles to be productive from time to time, but there are several tactics that make it easier to get back on track. A few tips and new habits might be all you need to enhance your results dramatically.

 When you were a child, you had the benefit of parents, coaches, and teachers. As adults, we have to learn to manage ourselves. Unfortunately, few of us are taught this skill. This leaves us to learn on our own. Others wait for something "big" to happen so they will suddenly have the motivation they need to complete a task or push through a tough time. The problem is, when this doesn't happen it is extremely easy to lose focus and fall off task. Instead of waiting for something to come to you, why not create your own motivation? You can... and it's much easier than you think!

 

Start Small

First, let’s begin with your surroundings. Find or create an environment that is conducive to healthy motivation. What does this mean? Well, it means that you need a clutter-free workspace, a comfortable chair at your desk, and a computer monitor at a comfortable height. Believe it or not, the littlest of things can zap you of your motivation in a real hurry. After all, how can you be motivated if you have a sore neck and back all the time? 

Ask yourself honestly: "How motivated would I be if I worked in a place that I actually liked to spend time in?" The moment you work in an environment that is congruent with your needs, you'll almost instantly find the motivation to get started and follow through.

 

Identifying Your Motivational Factors

 Everyone has different motivational factors so what works for your one person may not work for you. Instead, determine the unique things that excite and motivate you. Perhaps you can reward yourself with your favorite snack after completing an important task, or maybe you can participate in a friendly online challenge. Whatever it is, give yourself something to work towards!

You'll find more motivation by sprinkling tiny rewards throughout your day for each little task you check off your to-do list. When you keep your motivational factors simple, you'll keep the pressure off and get more done in less time.

 

Eye Level

Even your smartphone or computer can be a source of motivational energy. When you think about how often you see your lock/home screen or desktop wallpaper, it makes sense to put some inspiring thoughts and images there. When you are ready to throw in the towel, just take a quick look at your background and just might find the inspiration you need to persevere through! 

There are plenty of motivational images and quotes, so there's no shortage of motivation right on your desktop. You can refresh your desktop wallpaper every day, week, or month as you see fit. 

Using the power of motivating imagery is free and requires little time. This method is a prime example of finding motivation in the little things.

 

Motivation Techniques

1.     Use pleasure to your advantage. Make a list of the benefits of taking action – this list should be as long as you can make it. Don’t hold back. What will you gain? A better body? Improved social life? More money? Self-respect? When you find your motivation lagging, return to this list and rekindle your enthusiasm.

2.     Use pain to your advantage. If you fail to act, what is the likely outcome? You’ll be forced to live another day in your current existence. Or maybe your financial situation will become a little bit worse. Perhaps your income taxes will be late. Give yourself a list of painful outcomes to avoid.

3.     Reinforce your lists daily. Read over your lists of positives and negatives each day. In fact, to keep them fresh in your mind review your list morning and evening.

4.     Take a walk. Sometimes, a change of scenery can help to clear your head and increase your level of motivation. It’s a great time to daydream, think big thoughts and to consider long-term goals.

5.     Create habits that support your goals. Ideally, you can structure your life, so you don’t require motivation. Are you motivated to take a shower or brush your teeth? Not really – you just do them out of habit. Creating habits that make your goals an automatic reality is the best motivation tool of all! 

6.     Ask yourself why you’re stuck. Are you afraid? Tired? Restless? Take inventory and figure out what’s stopping you from taking aggressive action and getting things accomplished. Then take action to resolve the reasons for your inaction.

7.     Plan your day. Before bed, make a list of everything you’d like to get done tomorrow. Most importantly, get started on your list items early in the day. This will build momentum and the rest of the day will go more smoothly. Success begets success.

8.     Get started. Have you ever really noticed that motivation happens after there’s action? It’s interesting how challenging it can be to get started, but how easy it can be to continue. Pull out every trick in the book to make yourself begin. Watch! The resistance you feel will definitely decrease.

9.     Reward yourself regularly. Rewarded behaviors are more likely to reoccur in the future. Give yourself little rewards on a regular basis. You deserve it.

10. Compete with yourself. No one else. Strive to create small improvements in yourself each week. Surprisingly, this can actually be more motivating than competing against others. There might be plenty of people ahead of you, but you can always do better than you did last week.

11. Eliminate distractions. Everyone has a preferred method of distraction. It could be the internet, television, or ice cream. Avoid allowing yourself to indulge in your distraction until you’ve accomplished something worthwhile. Resist the urge. Be strong.

 

When you’re feeling unmotivated, avoid the belief that you’re stuck. There’s always something you can do to lift your spirits and tackle those big projects. Develop the skill to motivate yourself and start with the little things. You can’t be certain which tactics will be successful until you get started.