Motivating yourself is tough. Think of all the New Year Resolutions you took and gave up on them before the end of January. Trying to stay disciplined and focused on a task or a project can feel tedious and daunting. It is natural for us to have an aversion to persistent effort, and no matter how hard we try, sometimes we cannot find a fix. But there is a thing called self-motivation, and that is what distinguishes the high-achievers from the rest. There is a way to keep pushing forward even when you do not feel like it. In this article, we will look at the different ways you can motivate yourself daily.
Do not focus on chores, focus on goals
There are several studies which have highlighted the importance of setting goals. Marketing experts or sales professionals have targets, and they are committed to achieving them. Similarly, individuals who have health goals are more likely to workout every day to increase their fitness level. You cannot simply say that you are doing your best, instead, you need to have a concrete goal or a target where you read five pages daily or walk 10,000 steps every day. No matter what you choose, it should be specific, and you should agree to it.
Your goal should trigger an intrinsic motivation and should make you want to work for the bigger goal. Do not look at it as a chore or an activity you have to do, but look at it as a goal you want to achieve. It will help achieve success better than extrinsic motivation which will punish you in case of failure. Choose enjoyable goals and set an external reward. Always keep the bigger goal in mind because extrinsic motivation will not help you achieve success.
Do things you enjoy
The idea is to focus on the aspects of work that you find enjoyable. All of us would like to look for environment or job roles that we enjoy and keep us motivated, but not everyone can do this. Several people are not happy in their positions or are critical about their jobs. Many didn’t have any motivation to do better at their jobs. While it is not possible to change jobs quickly, you need to take on projects that will help achieve success. Several managers attempt to appreciate their team with recognition, trophies by EDCO.com, and even pay raises. However, the trick is to focus on the areas of work you find enjoyable.
Look at the bigger picture and see how achieving a task can be satisfying. A project might allow you to network with industry leaders while a task could enable you to showcase your skills. It could help build internal relationships or allow you to showcase your talent to the customers. You can also dust off the monotony of professional life with activities you enjoy like listening to music while answering emails or doing the boring chores on a Monday morning with your favorite podcast going on.
Reward yourself
Even if it is a small win, celebrate it and reward yourself. You need external motivators from time to time and it will help you stay on track for the long-term goal. Promise yourself a holiday after the completion of a big project, or invest in your favorite handbag after losing weight. Do not overspend here, but do appreciate yourself for the efforts you have made. You must also remember that the quality of tasks matters and not the quantity. You could be working out every day, but if you do not lose weight, you aren’t moving closer to your goals. Do not try to get done with the tasks quickly only to reward yourself.
Be careful when you choose incentives to celebrate the goals you have achieved. Do not overeat and celebrate weight loss, or do not overspend and celebrate the completion of a project. It will only diminish the positive progress you have made. Balance your goals and achievements at all times.
Sustain progress
All of us have gone through the phase where we are extremely motivated in the beginning but then slump and stall out in a few weeks. Take New Year resolutions, at the start of January, all of us are highly motivated, we tend to slump in mid-February and give up by the end of March. You can fight this pattern by breaking your big goal into smaller goals and working on them. You can also divide the smaller goals into sub-goals and make it a weekly task to achieve. This will keep you motivated, and you will see progress over time.
Keeping yourself motivated will have a positive impact on your health and well-being, and this is something that will reflect in your personal and professional life.
