7 Great Tips to Motivate Yourself
Learning to motivate yourself can help you overcome challenges and stay focused on your goals. One way to self-motivate is by setting specific and achievable goals for yourself. When you have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish, it becomes easier to stay motivated and take the necessary steps to reach your objectives.
Z. Hereford
To motivate yourself, or self-motivation occurs when a person has the desire and willingness to do something and is internally motivated to do it.
Unfortunately, sometimes it isn't easy to get ourselves moving and achieve what we want.
The natural inclination is to procrastinate. Life seems to get in the way. There is a job to go to, a house to clean, groceries to do, television to watch - oops!
We get pretty good at finding excuses for not starting an exercise routine, reading that new book, or cleaning out the closet.
The fact is we are creatures of routine and habit. However, once we allow ourselves to get into the habit of doing something (especially something we typically resist doing), it's no longer a struggle, and we may even end up enjoying it.
For example, when we were young, most of us probably didn't like bathing or brushing our teeth, but as they became habits, we no longer thought about them; we just did them.
So what can we do to motivate ourselves to accomplish, or even start working on, our goals?
For starters, we can think critically and ask ourselves what will happen if we don't develop a particular habit or routine. What would some of the consequences be of neglecting to do so? An important question - right? Typically, many of us don't think far enough ahead when we need to get in gear and get moving, so to help you:
Here are 7 great tips for motivating yourself:
1. Decide what you want. It's hard to motivate yourself without a goal or objective. Set a goal and decide how you will achieve it. Do you want to run a marathon, lose 10 pounds, or make enough money for college tuition? Knowing what you want to accomplish is the first step in motivating yourself to get started.
2. Break your goal down into smaller sections and more manageable steps. If you're not in the habit of setting goals or assessing what you want, doing so can initially seem daunting and overwhelming. You can lessen the immediate impact by breaking your goal down into smaller sections and more manageable steps. You don't want to panic and quit before you give yourself a chance!
3. Use self-talk and visualize the steps needed to reach your target or goal. In a recent vast study (June 2016) published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, Professor Andrew Lane, in conjunction with BBC Lab UK, discovered that the most effective motivational method was a combination of self-talk and visualization.
Researchers discovered that the most significant performance improvements occurred when self-talk, such as "I can do better, I can beat my best score," and visualizing (seeing yourself performing better at a task) significantly improved outcomes and led to optimal performance at a task.
However, there is a caveat. Other recent research has shown that idealized fantasizing about the future rather than visualizing the important steps needed to reach a goal is counterproductive. Indulging in visualization instead of the challenges and obstacles you will likely face depletes your energy. The idea is to visualize the potential setbacks and then engage in advanced problem-solving.
4. Post motivating pictures or slogans on your fridge or elsewhere. For continued reminder and renewed commitment, it is always inspiring to see photos of people who have accomplished what you're striving for. Doing so makes the goal attainable and realistic. Likewise, slogans like "Go for it" or "Just do it" can give you the little boost you need. Be sure to read inspiring and motivational quotes as well.
5. Remind yourself why you want this and focus on the result. If you remind yourself to be healthier, go for that promotion, or just better yourself, it will re-establish what you are doing and why. It's not unusual to hit a slump. Sometimes, we forget what we set out to do, and a little reminder is all we need to revitalize. Visualize (not fantasize) the result and 'feel' how gratified and triumphant you will be when you've achieved your goal. There is nothing like the promise of success and accomplishment to help mobilize and motivate!
6. Track your progress. Keep a log or journal where you chart your progress. Gauging how far you have come and how much you have accomplished can easily renew your motivation. Reviewing your progress alone can inspire you to keep pushing ahead and remind you which actions to take to get there. Review, remember, and recommit!
7. Make it a habit. Once you have accomplished your goal or objective, make it a habit! If it was to exercise or eat properly, keep it up. If the goal was to work for a promotion or any other one-time event, maintain the habit of self-improvement. Once it becomes a habit, it will be second nature, and you won't have to think about it anymore. That means you won't be procrastinating, avoiding, or building up motivation to do it again.
Interesting Tip: Studies have also shown that being too intense or working on a task in the same way for too long can jeopardize motivation. Who would have thought?
Therefore, make it a point to walk away and take breaks now and then. Change the conditions and timetable you're working under by choosing a different location or trying a different method. If possible, find a way to make the process more enjoyable. Doing so will give you renewed energy for your important project and offer a fresh perspective.
Not surprisingly, we all have trouble motivating ourselves from time to time. However, if we remember why we want to accomplish something and how great it will feel when we do, it can often serve as the primary and initial motivation needed to get us moving.