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How to motivate yourself when you’re not feeling it? What can motivate me when I’m stuck in a rut? We all have days or extended periods of time where we can’t seem to get moving and achieve our goals. While there are a few things that can be postponed, most of the time we are expected to perform certain tasks.
“I need motivation, but I don’t know how to get started”- we’ve all been there. When we are running on low energy and productivity just doesn’t come easily, we have to take a deep breath, relax, and try to figure out ways to practice self-motivation. It is all within our own power to turn things around for the best.
How to Motivate Yourself – 15 Steps to Get the Work Done
- Be kind to yourself. First off, don’t beat yourself up too hard if you can’t seem to take an interest in what it is that you are trying to do. It will only make you less motivated, and you really don’t want to sink even deeper into that vicious cycle. Allow yourself time to get back on track because you can’t expect everything to happen overnight.
- Embrace your failures. Every mistake we make is actually a lesson. Learn from your setbacks and improve what it is that you were doing wrong.
- Celebrate your victories. No matter how small or big, we must get excited about every win no matter how big or small that win may be. Anytime something good happens, take a minute to enjoy your accomplishment and think of it as a step toward achieving bigger goals.
- Figure out what you love doing. Most of the time you can’t find ways to motivate yourself because you simply dread the thing you must do. Think about what would make you happy to get out of bed in the morning and keep you motivated at all times. Maybe you need to switch majors, to get a new job, or to meet new people. It is all doable.
- Never forget your ultimate objective. When you’re working towards something, never forget what it is. Your target may not be reachable in the next few years, and that OK. As long as you remember what the big fish is, you will grow the patience and motivation you need to stay on your path.
- Spice it up. Routine is one of the main motivation killers. Doing the same thing over and over again is bound to have some negative Bring something new into your life. Take on a new hobby, start working out, change your habit of going out places, listen to new music and everything else you don’t normally do. It might just be the thing you need to recharge your batteries.
- Push yourself hard in the morning. Perform the most difficult tasks in the morning. We feel the most motivated in the first few hours of the morning, after a good night’s sleep. Don’t postpone anything because your energy will drop significantly throughout the day and you will just end up procrastinating more.
- Get motivation from successful people. There are tons of podcasts, blogs, and other similar resources, from individuals who have struggled with the same
issues you do now but have figured out the way to get out of the rut. Because there are so many motivation speakers willing to share their story and give out tips on how to motivate yourself. It would be a shame not to take advantage of their precious advice. Take, for example, Sara Isakovic, who was 16 years old competing for Slovenia in swimming. She went on to win the silver medal in the 2008 Olympics. Listen to her talk about motivation on a podcast we recorded last year. - Learn to focus. Many times, we lack motivation because we can’t seem to focus on our target. Find out how to remain focused on school, work, gym, or the sport that you practice, and you will see how this ability will increase your motivation as well.
- Detach yourself from everything. Take a break from time to time. Sometimes, all we really need is a day or two of rest and meditation. Only when we’re well rested, we can perform at our maximum capacity. Take time off to go on vacation and charge those batteries.
- Monitor your progress. This is very useful when searching for ways how to motivate yourself to exercise or to become better at your job. Get a journal and write down your progress. Actually seeing how far you’ve gone since beginning the journey towards your aim will act as a further motivator. It’s the inspiration you need to keep pushing for the best. Furthermore, it will show you what you’re doing well and what actions are not so beneficial and need to be changed.
- Change the environment. If you’re a writer or another professional that can work remotely, then think about changing your location. We’re creatures of habit, but there are instances where our routine can become psychically damaging. Waking up in a different place may boost your motivation level.
- Meditate. Train your brain as well, not just your body. “How do I motivate myself by just doing this?”, you might ask. A simple five-minute meditation helps us focus and also pumps up our mood. Yoga is always a good idea if you want to activate both your muscles and your brain.
- Take a power nap. How do you motivate yourself when you’re tired? Has your brain shut down and won’t collaborate anymore? Take a power nap and you will boost your brain’s energy significantly. The best time for naps is between 1 P.M. and 3 P.M., and it should last no less than 20 minutes and no more than 40 minutes. Once awake, you can get back to your task a little more rested.
- Talk to your friends or family. Spend time with the motivated people in your life. Let their positive energy act as a motivator, and seek them for advice. You will most likely feel more comfortable confessing your struggles to those you know and trust the most. Don’t be afraid to open up.
