Need Help Getting Motivated?

Motivation Starts with One Step

Whether you’re trying to get into the holiday spirit, get through the semester or just trying to make progress on your day, sometimes it can be hard to conjure up the motivation. It might seem like a chicken and egg scenario, but getting motivated actually happens by starting. One small win can start the ball rolling, even if you stay in activity for just fifteen minutes.

Try these to tips to increase your ability to make progress and feel good about where you’re spending your energy.

Steps to Getting Motivated

Organize and Assess

1. Get the things you want to accomplish out of your head onto a list. Just making the list is progress! Take a long look at the list and cross of any that aren’t really necessary or can be done my someone else. Delegate the ones that someone else can handle.
2. Prioritize the remaining items identifying the top 2-3 that will make the biggest impact and/or have the shortest runway. Then find the item on the list that will take the least amount of time and do that one first. Checking off one thing is incredibly helpful in getting motivated and can enable you to move onto the top priority items.
3. Break the big items down into smaller chunks. Incremental progress is a bigger motivator than looking at the big looming task. As you complete each part, your motivation will generally increase.

Reduce Distractions

If you’re still struggling to move forward, look at where there might be additional chaos that can cause distraction. Clear your desk, if needed, or maybe get out of your house or office to a place that allows for more clarity. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb to keep those insignificant notifications at bay and allow you to stay present on the task at hand.

Take Breaks

Recharge frequently. Your brain can focus on a task for 50-52 minutes. If you’re forcing yourself to plow through on something that requires a lot of focus, taking a break can allow you to come back with a fresh perspective and complete the task in less time. A quick chat at the water cooler, a walk around the block or a little baby talk with your dog are simple tricks to refocus and regain your motivation.

Rest. If you’re not getting adequate rest it can be incredibly challenging to motivate yourself. Pay attention to mental and emotional exhaustion, in addition to physical fatigue. Sometimes taking a break is more effective in regaining your motivation than stressing over getting motivated again. Take time off work, ask someone to watch the kids or just turn off all outside interferences and spend time by yourself.

If you’re lack of motivation persists and permeates all parts of your life, seek professional help. We all need an outside perspective from time to time. Don’t let too much time pass you by.

Motivating Others

So often we’re the cheerleaders and want to motivate others to be their best. And while we can cheer them on, motivating someone else, requires a different approach. Of course, you can share this post, but next week I’ll be sharing more on how to help those around you dig deep and make the progress they want. If you’d like support in a group setting, take a look at my quarterly Peacing it Together group coaching program.

If you want to start with getting a better understanding of your leading emotion, take my free quiz.