The most important thing for you to do though, is TAKE ACTION.
I appreciate you reading this, but if you read the words without taking the action, you won't gain much.
1 - Our Language
Our world is created in our language — so change your words to change your world.Everything we interpret around us is based on our language — whether we experience the language as words, symbols, body language, and or another medium.
If you build an environment of low motivation, you will feel low motivation.
Stop telling yourself you're tired.
Stop telling yourself you're bored.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
We all face challenges in life. What matters is how you deal with those. That separates those who feel successful and happy from those who feel stuck.
Don't feel stuck. Change your language.
2 - What's Your Why?
Go back to your reason "why". You hear a lot in business about connecting to a "vision" — the reason "why" of that company. The vision is how the company wants to be positioned.
You can set the same standard for yourself as well.
Discover what matters to you.
My reasons why are freedom of time, location, work, interests, and health.
Yours can be anything. They can fit under one value, like freedom, or touch various.
Or, your "why" can be summarized in three words.
Just find your "why".
3 - Motivational Figures
Review some motivational quotes. Quotes can be cheesy, but a lot of us find them pretty effective as well.
Quotes can be simple, but powerful.
"It's not just another day; it's the one day that is given to you today."
When I want to remember why I continue to learn:
"Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune. " - Jim Rohn
When I really want to just complete a project or task:
Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. - Parkinson's Law
When I find myself unsatisfied with what I have:
"The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less." - Socrates
When I don't feel satisfied with my work:
"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." - Steve Jobs
When I need hope:
"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever." - Steve Jobs
These are all just reminders to keep pushing forward. It connects us to our "why" in a creative way.
Pay attention next time you have a quote that resonates with you, copy it down, and return to it when you need it.
4 - Stop and Watch
Watch a video to hype you up. 100 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute.
Start a playlist so you can have something to remind you to get back to hustlin'.
Here's one of my favorites:
**And Here's A Playlist Of More I Love**
Watch them. Love them. Add them to a playlist. Go back when you need a boost.
5 - Get Active
This can be simple, if you'd prefer.
Take a walk, try the 7-minute workout, take a cold shower, head to the gym and get back to work later on.
Our mind responds to our body's activity.
6 - Get Caffeinated
Coffee or tea is the obvious choice — and you probably know which you like.
The fact that it will get you out of your chair and moving is an added bonus.
If you want to load up on dark chocolate for that little caffeine kick, go for it.
Just don't go overboard.
7 - Don't Go Hungry
While you're at it, eat a little something. But please, be smart! Put the junk food back on the shelf (or in the trash) and go for something healthy. I snack on fruits, carrot sticks, greek yogurt, nuts, and take vitamins.
Eat whatever you like that is healthy. We aren't talking about superfoods here - just being healthy.
8 - Phone a Friend
We all have friends and family we love to talk to (and those we hate talking to). Think of that person who inspires you when you talk to them, and give them a call.
You don't have to tell them why you're calling. Just set a few minutes aside to give them a ring, check in with how they are doing, talk a bit about yourself, and get back to work.
Know who energizes you, and reach out.
9 - Take a Break!
To summarize, try the Pomodoro Technique, the 20-20-20 rule, focus will to combine a neuroscience backed music playlist with regular breaks, or focus on your muse.
The key, though, is experimentation.
10 - Power Nap! Or, Just Meditate. Or Both!
We work hard, and constantly. We know this already - and that's probably why you're out of motivation still at this point.
I've liked to try both "power naps" and meditation.
For Power Naps:
Set an alarm for 20 minutes - and no more than that (I wouldn't recommend less than 15 either).
Lay down, if you can, or sit comfortably in your chair.
Close your eyes and calm your breathing.
Scan your body from head-to-toe. Relax your forehead, your eyebrows, cheeks, mouth, neck, shoulders, arms, hips, legs.
Wait calmly until the alarm goes off. If you fall asleep, great. If not, just wait. You will feel refreshed when you wake.
Meditation:
This doesn't have to be intense. Find ways to include meditation in your day. Just simple relaxation where you don't have to think about anything.
Calm.com is my favorite meditation app!
11 - Turn Off Distractions
Turn off Facebook, Twitter, Emails, TV, and whatever other distraction you allow around you.
It's your choice.
It might not be easy at times, but it can make a huge difference.
Turn down the noise — turn up the creativity.
12 - Get Musical
Try a music playlist that gets you going. Again, focus will is a great choice. I like the Alpha Chill and ADHD playlists, depending on the energy I need.
You can make your own through YouTube, Spotify, or whatever music service you use.
13 - Be Gracious
This will be kept short, since I have an entire post on why you should start a gratitude journal.
This should really be in the top 3, since it is more of a preventive measure.
I will say, the days that I skip the journal, I can feel it.
Start a gratitude journal or practice and stick with it.
14 - Change Perspective
Change perspective on what you're doing. If we look back at #1 — our language shapes our world.
So, you don't have to dread what you're doing. You can just get it done.
Try taking a moment to list three positive outcomes of completing the task.
I'll get you going — one can be that you won't have it there to dread anymore.
You might gain a new skill, help someone else, feel accomplished, or learn something new about yourself, too.
Easy, right?
Just put pen to paper!
15 - Get to Work.
Just do it. Seriously. Do it.
Build the willpower within you to get it done.
Remove all distractions. Stop reading this. Stop seeking out motivation and just do it.
Make this your goal for the next hour, or for the day, but make sure it gets done.
Be relentless.
And If That All Fails
Does it really have to be done? (If no, move on from it.)
Does it have to be done by you? (If no, outsource it.)
Can you live with not doing it? (If no, see #15.)
If you are still stuck, there's no advice but to just get it done so you can get past it.
This may not be an exhaustive list, but it gives you a start. You can work through it methodically when you need a kick to get moving forward.
And that's its purpose.
But it's in your hands to keep moving forward.
You can't seek out external motivation all the time.
Connect with the core of why you do what you do and you will move forward, with occasional bumps, but headstrong persistence.