No matter your current situation – whether you're working remotely, launching into a new job, facing the uncertainty in your role, or simply feeling the need for change – all of these scenarios require a healthy dose of motivation to kickstart your momentum and keep you on the right path!
It's all too easy to begin the day with the best intentions, only to be swayed by thoughts like "I can't muster the energy today" or "Perhaps I'll tackle it tomorrow." However, these are hurdles that must be overcome!
Motivation serves as an essential human drive, pushing us to achieve definitive and desired outcomes. Postponing tasks endlessly leads to a sense of stagnation and the absence of accomplishment and ambition – both of which are powerful motivators.
So, where do you begin? Well, it truly starts within you. The most potent motivation comes from your own determination. Don't rely on external sources or outside circumstances. Set achievable goals and make your move. The following tips should give you a good start to achieving this!
Make a plan in manageable chunks
Research tells us that you are on average 45% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down. It can be a daily, weekly, monthly plan or a mixture, set out your objectives and monitor them. Once you start to achieve, it will motivate you to carry on, seeing the end goal in sight will naturally motivate you.
Do make sure though you break things down into realistic and manageable chunks, otherwise, you will get demotivated when it all goes wrong. You can’t achieve big things in small time frames if you have other large commitments, it can make reaching the target an impossible task. Is it realistic to give your whole house a makeover within a week, when you must work in between, not really! So don’t make your goals or tasks unmanageable because the motivation will fade.
Don’t get distracted
It is easy to put on the tv, become ensconced in social media or just scroll through your phone, then before you know it the day has nearly gone. Be strict and resist temptation, if you really can’t get through a period without them, then use them as a reward when you have completed something, allowing yourself small chunks of time coinciding with your small chunks of achievements.
Be inspired by books
Here is an old article from Inc. It may be old, but it has a great selection of classic books to keep you motivated! Out of this list, our favourites are 'How to Win Friends & Influence People', 'Awaken the Giant Within' and 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People'! Reading how to motivate yourself with strategies and stories is a fantastic way to keep on track. Don't have time I hear you say? Then get an Audible account! there is no excuse not to keep learning whilst vacuuming, washing or commuting!
Be inspired by your favourite songs
Who doesn’t love a good tune? We all have favourites that inspire us and it’s a well-known fact that music creates a positive attitude and improves productivity throughout the day. Choose tunes that make you happy, tap your feet or make you want to sing and use them to motivate you!
Share your achievements
Don’t share your goals with others but do share your achievements. We sometimes set ourselves up for a fall by broadcasting our intentions, when that can be counterproductive. It is much less pressure announcing the success you have had, be it a big or a small win rather than living up to something that may not be realistic and makes you feel like you have failed. Getting compliments from our achievements is very motivational!
Positive attitude and persistence
Positivity can really enhance your drive, never be scared to laugh and have fun! Becoming really engaged in an exciting task ahead can really keep you positive. You need the energy to start something and your positivity can kick start the energy levels, high energy levels are motivating and so the circle goes on, so jump on that roundabout! Positivity is a head game and also can be affected by the physical side of life. One quick tip if you want to take yourself from feeling down to feeling positive quickly is to do a short sharp 2 minutes of motivational exercise. Try jumping or running on the spot, while smiling and shouting “come on”! Sounds very un-British, but you would be amazed how it works and can snap you out of things. If you don't believe us then just try it once! Try and incorporate little things within your day that make you happy. A good cup of coffee, a quick meditation, a small piece of quality chocolate, a bit of mindfulness, looking at some happy photos of you and your family. These little things all go a long way to staying positive!
Conclusion
In essence, motivation is a dynamic force that, when nurtured from within, can propel you beyond obstacles and towards the realisation of your aspirations. By setting manageable goals, curbing distractions, drawing wisdom from literature, embracing the power of music, sharing your successes, and cultivating a positive attitude, you lay a robust foundation for unwavering motivation on your journey toward triumph.
When all is said and done, actions speak louder than words …. just do it, remember motivation is the willingness of action, especially in behaviour.
We have a great podcast by Sandra Marston, an esteemed counsellor and life coach looking at all the strategies to help us stay positive so have a listen! Podcast page here