10 Ways to Motivate Yourself

If you have never had to force yourself into doing something and procrastinating is not your thing, then you’re in luck. But for others who lack the motivation to perform their tasks no matter how easy they seem, then you may want to learn some ways to motivate yourself.

Sometimes, no matter how passionate we are with the things we do, there are moments where we feel demotivated. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s time that you look for that emotional boost to help you get back on track.

Whether it’s about starting a new business, accomplishing certain tasks, ditching a bad habit, or trying to lose weight, here are some ways on how you can keep yourself motivated.

1. Always Start Small

Experts recommend starting small by developing a baseline of your reality. Then slowly aim for progress until you can eventually make things happen. It could be as simple as getting up early in the morning even if you are not a morning person.

Perhaps you can set your alarm 15 minutes earlier than your actual waking time. Or maybe you can try to walk for an extra quarter of a mile every single day. These little things will lead you to achieve bigger things in the future.

2. Find Out Why You’re Doing It

Identify the reasons why you need to accomplish your tasks. If it’s about losing weight, then what are your reasons for doing such?

Sure, your reasons may already be obvious. For instance, you’re trying to lose weight because you want to be healthy or look good, but identifying what these reasons are and jotting them down will make it easier for you to keep track of your progress. And if you find that you’re doing well and making improvements on your health, this will motivate you to keep going.

People need to know the exact reason why they are doing certain things so they can carry on with the task and stay motivated throughout.

3. Don’t Be Harsh on Yourself

Sometimes, the reason why people get discouraged is because they have the tendency to compare themselves to others. This is something we all should stop doing. Stop comparing your accomplishments with that of your colleague or neighbor.

No matter how good we are, there will always be someone who is smarter or better than us. We need to accept this notion so we don’t feel discouraged if we find that others are doing better than us.

4. Focus Deeply

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett were once asked what they believe is the most important ingredient for success and they all responded with “focus.” This made them laugh because they never expected to have the same answer.

Indeed, in today’s world, we are often flooded with emails, text messages, and social media notifications. All these are work interruptions that keep us away from focus. So, switch off your mobile phone and don’t be tempted to open Facebook or Instagram if you want to stay focused.

5. Do It with a Partner

Having someone join you in your journey will make the process so much easier. If you made a commitment to work out regularly, look for a gym buddy. That way, whenever you find yourself feeling tired or demotivated to go to the gym, your partner might just make you change your mind.

If you are doing things on your own, you could find yourself losing interest on your journey early on. And since no one will be there to help you get back on track, then you are bound to fail. So, look for someone who can be your partner in crime. Remember, things will be much easier if you are doing them with a partner.

6. Recognize the Little Wins

Sure, little wins might sound like small accomplishments but they will still lead you to your goal. Therefore, they must be celebrated. Recognizing these small accomplishments can also help you stay motivated. It discourages mediocrity by teaching you to always win.

In fact, successful CEOs implement a strategy known as “Awesome Bell.” Whenever something great happens, no matter how small these things are, they ring the bell.

7. Accept That You’re Vulnerable

In this day and age of social media, we are living in a culture where people compete with the number of likes on Facebook or Instagram. And realizing that our life is less than perfect than others can lead to discouragement. This is pretty toxic and could result in a dangerous perception of success.

There’s nothing wrong with admitting failure and sharing defeats. In fact, this is a powerful motivator, as it will allow us to move past our failure and strive hard to do better. Sharing vulnerable moments can also help foster a deeper connection among your peers.

8. Call a Friend

Asking help from a friend is another effective way to stay motivated. If you’re trying to lose weight, ask a friend to join you in your fitness routine. Doing yoga or exercising can be a lot of fun if you do it with a partner in crime.

If you are working on a project, try to do it in a café and call a friend. Schedule a work date with someone who can help you accomplish your tasks. Even if you are working on two separate projects, having a friend join you is enough to keep you motivated.

9. Do Weekly Check-Ins with Yourself

If you’re not seeing any results in your journey to lose weight, you might end up feeling frustrated. Some will quit working out thinking that it’s just a waste of time and effort. Indeed, it’s pretty easy to give up whenever you feel like you’re not making any difference despite all the hard work.

To address this, schedule a weekly check-in with yourself. Give yourself an hour or two every week to evaluate your progress and find out where you are in your journey. If you’re not getting any progress, reflect on the things you have done and what you need to do in order to improve your results.

10. Confront Death

Some people believe that death is an effective motivator. Sometimes, we tend to get caught up doing mindless activities. We seem to be doing certain things when we are actually just spinning around with no direction.

We have to always remember that our time here on Earth is limited. This thought should be enough to motivate us into accomplishing things while we still have time. All the things that we do now will lead us into our legacy.