Motivation is an up and down roller coaster, but how do you turn it on when you need it? This is an issue that so many encounter and it will keep you from checking the important tasks off your lists.
We all go through periods where we feel like we need to take a break. It’s normal! Sometimes it feels like more of a barrier.
The lack of motivation I am referring to is the one where you feel like you’re stuck in a slump for days! Nothing is getting done, and you just need to get out of the funk and start making some progress.
After reading this post, you will be able to get back to the perfect motivation mindset and thrive. You will be back to your productive self!
Get Simple and Find Your Motivation
When you are going in too many directions, mentally and physically, it can feel like you’re too scattered to pick up the pieces and move forward.
A while back, when I was juggling work, school and life, I was stretched too thin and couldn’t focus on the most important areas. Once I used all my energy in those areas, I no longer had the motivation to work on my own projects and work on personal development. It is not a good idea to get this far! You become unhappy when you can’t find the energy and motivation to work on YOU.
When my head is spinning, I step back and try to focus on the tasks that NEED to get done and can’t wait. This ensures there will be some energy and motivation for other areas of life.
When you have a lot going on, take a post-it and write down the 3-5 major items that need to your attention right away. Put them in order of importance and assign a time frame to each item.
It’s natural to get distracted and your mind may really want to wander during each task. Stay on track by quietly saying out loud “get this done first”. Work on training yourself to stop and focus only on the task at hand. It’s overwhelming to think about everything else on your plate.
When you can complete a couple of your priority tasks and feel like it’s a “win”, you will be more motivated to continue to work on the rest. Climbing out of the hole slowly is the only way to go. If you go to fast, you risk overwhelming yourself again.
Seek Out Inspiration to Stay Motivated
When I am not feeling motivated, I have learned to turn to those who I find inspiring. The words they’ve written or the videos they’ve created make me feel like I can get stuff done too! For an instant pick me up whenever you need it, create a playlist of videos that get you excited on YouTube. Although I’ve visited the same videos, books and blogs time and time again, there is still inspiration for me to find and feel. Find people and stories that make you feel inspired to act.
Here are some of my favorites:
- A Story That Will Change Your Life by Lisa Nichols (presented by Be Inspired)
- Ted Talk: Surviving Disappearance, Re-Imagining & Humanizing Native Peoples by Matika Wilbur
- Let Go of Your Excuses and Take Responsibility For Your Success by Carrie Green
- Music videos (Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson)
- The Ellen Show
Find motivation and inspiration from others creating awesome things in the world!
Another way to seek out motivation is to find people who you think are killing it right now and invite them out to coffee or to visit. Let yourself become motivated by soaking up their enthusiasm. They will have different ideas and perspectives and that could be just what you need more of right now.
Seeking out various sources of motivation will help you tap into it whenever you need it. There is inspiration everywhere! Discover what works for you and use it to help get yourself moving forward again.
Commit Publicly to Find The Motivation
If you are trying to get yourself motivated to start something new, discover ways to bring others on your journey. Committing publicly to your new adventure could be the motivation you need.
At the start of a new project, it’s easy to say it to yourself and leave it at that. Often times we won’t tell others out of fear that what we are attempting to do is too big or scary. We don’t want to be a failure if we experience a setback. Often time, we also assume that others won’t care. This world is full of so many different people and your story and journey may be what they’re searching for, or what they need to hear to finally act!
When we commit to something publicly, we are also creating accountability for ourselves. By opening ourselves up to others, we are gaining a support system to share our successes and challenges with. This will help you feel more excited about getting motivated!
We started this blog. Others have started an Instagram page for their new project. It could also be as simple as finding one friend or acquaintance that has an interest. There are so many options to do this, so go find the one that is right for you.
The Take Away
When motivation has run out and you are feeling stuck, it comes down to making the choice to act. Stripping down your tasks to the true necessities, seeking out inspiration and committing publicly are great ways to get started!
One step at a time is all that it takes to start moving forward. Start working towards getting your motivation back. I won’t promise it will be easy but make the choice to move forward and you will be surprised at what you are able to accomplish.
Tell us in the comments how you keep your motivation.
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