Motivation isn’t something we can just have instantly. Being motivated is also not something we can turn on and off with the flick of a switch.
As such, we may often find ourselves procrastinating. This can manifest in so many ways. It can be that important call you keep putting off, a special announcement you just can't seem to find the right moment of, or the task given to you days ago still left untouched.
We know that the longer we put these tasks off, the worse that it will get for us in the long run. We know that there will be consequences and yet, we just can’t seem to push ourselves to be motivated enough. So how do we solve this?
Well, luckily for you, here are 12 tips you can use in order to keep yourself going every day!
Fix your mindset
Everything starts and ends with our mindset. Without the proper mindset to start from, everything just crumbles apart.
Most of us tend to focus on how difficult the task that lies ahead of us is. We tend to overanalyze just how much we will struggle with it and just thinking about the task already makes us feel tired. This mindset will definitely set us back before we even begin.
So what we can do instead of imagining how hard the task is, we can focus instead on the relief and happiness that it will cause us once it is done.
Set clear goals
Along with having the right mindset, having clear goals are also key if we want to get more things done in our lives. When we know our goals clearly, we give ourselves a clear guide on the things we want to achieve within a set period of time.
One way you can do this is by setting SMART goals that stand for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. These are the fundamental things you need to ask yourself when it comes to setting goals. Make sure that your answers satisfy all of the criteria and with this, you will know how exactly you can approach your goals.
Break tasks down
After setting your goals, it might still be overwhelming for some to get started. Furthermore, having such daunting tasks ahead of us is what sets a lot of people back. They tend to get overwhelmed and often don’t know what to do or where to start. This leads to more procrastination and eventually fewer things getting done.
So what you can do then is to break a large task down into smaller and simpler tasks. For instance, if you have a huge company event coming up that you have to manage, break everything down into the different and smaller things that you have to do such as arranging for catering, the venue, the announcements, etc.
Be accountable
Another way you can make sure that you are able to actually do things on time is to simply hold yourself accountable. You can do this by having another person watch over you and remind you from time to time about what you need to do and achieve.
For instance, having a fitness buddy can make you more likely to achieve your goals than if you were going on a diet and workouts alone. This is because you will have somebody there to remind you and somebody to hold you accountable.
Let go of perfectionism
Perfectionism is one of the enemies of productivity. There are often times when we spend more time worrying about how to do things right in the most perfect way or perfecting a task rather than achieving more tasks at work.
We’re not telling you to settle for mediocrity, but you should also practice being less uptight about every single detail. Always ask yourself whether it’s worth it to fret over a tiny detail or if you should get more things done instead.
Spend time wisely
How you budget your time determines how productive you will be the whole day. This also entails having the discipline to stick to a schedule and actually get things done within a certain timeframe.
So spend your time wisely and avoid wasting time on distractions especially if you want to get more work done.
Think of the consequences
When we procrastinate, we often tend to overlook or underestimate the consequences. “We got distracted for seven hours? Well, maybe we’ll just do it tomorrow!” Then tomorrow comes and you are now more stressed than ever because you are running out of time.
So always think about the consequences every time you feel like procrastinating. Think about how it will affect you, your workplace, and perhaps even your family to motivate yourself to avoid procrastinating.
Practice self-discipline
Discipline is key to achieving everything that we need in our lives. Achieving and practicing discipline is important if we want to get more things done in life. However, it is also true that it is easier than done.
So we must start as early as possible and cultivate many habits that instill discipline into ourselves.
Surround yourself with the right people
In line with discipline, it can be hard to motivate ourselves and have discipline if we are surrounded by people who refuse to do the same. It’s even worse if they encourage us to take on unhealthy habits instead. So if you think that you are surrounded by such people, then it’s time for you to break free and start seeking the right friendship circle.
You should be surrounded by people who encourage you to be motivated, those who inspire you to be better, and those who teach you new things that will improve your life.
Seek assistance
Now when you're surrounded by the right people, don’t be afraid to ask for help from them. No man is an island after all and we will need all the help that we can get.
This can be hard to do for some people due to conflicting thoughts, but dont worry about looking incompetent because, at the end of the day, nobody knows everything right from the start.
Keep track of your goals
You should also make sure to keep track of your goals. We are forgetful creatures, and it’s easy to lose ourselves and our motivation in the whirlwind of life. So make sure to keep track of your goals through something like a post-it note in front of your computer so you do not lose track of what you are working towards.
Reward yourself
Keeping yourself motivated doesn’t mean that you always have to be so hard on yourself. Not every day has to be a grueling workday. It’s fine to take a breather once in a while. So go out there and take a walk through the park or at the mall, play your favorite games, watch your favorite movies, and have fun to reward yourself for all your hard work.
Conclusion
It is truly difficult to keep ourselves motivated especially in a world where instant gratification and rewards are quite the norm. It is also difficult to keep ourselves constantly motivated towards the same goal in a world that continues changing around us. So make sure to do most if not all of the things above and you’ll find yourself more motivated than others for a longer period of time!
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