6 Ways to Increase Your Self-Motivation
It isn’t always easy to be consistent and keep the momentum going when we start to take actions to reach our dream – even though we know it’s crucial to keep making progress. Taking action and staying motivated are the most important pieces of the entire success puzzle. Actually, with proper planning, constant motivation and self-drive it will end up being a Picasso instead of a puzzle because it will all come together beautifully and naturally.
So, what do you do to stay motivated and continue to work toward your goals on a daily basis?
Have you experimented with several different strategies that will help you stay motivated even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges? When the chips are down it’s good to have some extra fall-back strategies to get you through the rough spots.
Try these motivational strategies the next time you’re feeling stuck:
1. Break large goals down into smaller goals that are more attainable. If you have several large goals then break them down into a series of actionable and attainable steps that you can see the results quickly. Try to break them down into a maximum of a 1-2 week time period. After you complete each sub-goal then celebrate and reward yourself for achieving the goal. This step is particularly self-motivating and it will keep you on track to reaching your larger goals.
2. Determine, realize and respect your limits. You’re the only one who really knows yourself and when you are reaching a limit. (If you don’t, then spend some time on self-awareness). You know when you’re moving too slowly and that you need to take more action, and on the other hand you should also know when you’re pushing too much. Determine where these points are for you and become very aware of them. This keeps you moving forward at a pace that gets things done, yet keeps burn out from occurring.
3. Focus and remove all distractions. You know the commitments you’ve made to yourself (and possibly others) concerning your goals. You also know the things that easily take you off task so you can avoid them. However, there may be some things that easily distract you that you may not even be aware of. This is where self-awareness is key. The better you know yourself, the easier it becomes to self-manage and achieve your goals.
4. Get help when you need it. Realize that you’re not in this alone. Reach out to others for help if you need it. If you don’t do this, then realize that you are literally making a choice to delay progress and stay stuck where you’re at on the current problem. Everyone needs help from time to time, so don’t be afraid to ask for it.
5. Do something that energizes you. If you’re feeling sluggish then get up and take a walk, do some stretching, etc. The important thing here is to do something that gives you a little boost of energy. This will help clear your mind and get the blood flowing back in your extremities. You’ll be ready to conquer the world again before you know it!
6. Make sure that you stay on schedule. An organized planned tied to a schedule will help keep you motivated and is an excellent visual to track your progress. Be sure to use SMART goals and be very specific on what you’re going to do and when. If you have everything well planned it will be a natural transition from one task to the next so you won’t lose momentum. You should never find yourself in a position where you are wondering what task to do next.
Success is almost always achieved through purposeful action. Take a look at the world’s successful people and you’ll find a common theme. They’ve all achieved great things because they were not only highly motivated, but had a plan that they executed daily. That’s the key to staying motivated!
