What does it take to increase your motivation? You set goals, make plans, get excited, but then procrastinate when it comes time to do something. Many of us are cursed with the ability to feel good about the planning process, but awful about acting on those plans.
This is a disconnect that few people understand how to address. If you have trouble turning plans into actions, you’ll struggle immensely. Master this disconnect, and you can do anything.
Read on to learn how you can enhance your motivation using 5 simple strategies.
5 Strategies to Increase Your Motivation
1. Give your attention to those things under your control
You can’t control much, but there’s no reason to focus on anything else. Doing so will only lead to feeling overwhelmed. For example, receiving a promotion isn’t under your control. The behaviors that improve your odds are under your control.
Put your time, energy, and attention on the things you can control. Avoid wasting your resources on anything you can’t influence.
2. Find a purpose that inspires you
Going into work on Saturday to complete a report might sound like the least enjoyable way to spend part of your weekend, but if excelling at your job could lead to the promotion you’ve been dreaming of, it’s easier to be motivated.
Most people don’t like to work out, but the prospect of being healthier and more attractive is motivating to many people. Find a purpose that inspires you, and you’ll be able to more easily transform your plans into actions that move you forward.
Your inspiration might be a product of what you’re doing for others. How does your goal benefit others?
Avoid judging the task or activity in the short-term. Think about what you’ll get out of it down the road, and find a way to take inspired action
3. Focus on small wins
If your goal is to lose 50 pounds over the next year, it’s easy to become burned out. Let’s say you’ve spent two hard weeks of hitting the gym, avoiding late night snacks, and drinking only water, and you’ve lost a total of two pounds.
You’re right on schedule, but you realize that you have 48 weeks and 48 pounds to go. It seems like too much to bear. The key to avoiding this feeling?
Break the goal up into smaller pieces. Depending on your ability to focus, it might be necessary to break up the goal into segments that last anywhere from one week to 12 weeks. This way your brain can experience success and logically see a positive long-term outcome.
You’ll procrastinate if the path looks too challenging. Make it easier to swallow (and achieve) by focusing on one small step at a time, and celebrating the small wins that you accomplish.
4. Act first
It’s a mistake to wait for motivation to strike. You might find yourself waiting for a long time. Avoid thinking too much about the work to be done.
If you wait too long to get started, procrastination becomes more likely. Before you can stop yourself, get started. You’ll find that motivation is easier to experience after you’ve acted.
Every minute you wait under the guise of “planning” or “strategizing” saps what little motivation you may already have. Stop making “to-do” lists. Jump up and get busy!
5. Enhance your mood
It’s much harder to be motivated when you’re in a bad mood. Studies have shown that a negative mood increases procrastination behaviors.
Procrastination enhances your mood in the short-term, but at the expense of the future. When you put yourself into a better mental state, procrastination becomes less likely to occur.
Happiness increases productivity and success. Monitor your progress and celebrate your steps forward. Research suggests that nothing is more motivating than progress in a meaningful endeavor.
How to Motivate Yourself Daily.
Without motivation, you can make spectacular goals and plans will come up short. The smallest obstacle could stop you from moving forward. Learning how to manage your motivation is a key component of effectively handling challenges and moving on to accomplish great things.
Motivate yourself and you can do anything!
Here’s what you need to do today:
Which of your goals is the most important to you?
- Break this goal down into small, achievable increments that lead you to your goal.
- What can you do today to take a step towards this goal?
- Take this step – today.
These five steps can help develop your self-motivation over time, but you can also supercharge your motivation daily by integrating certain routines into your day. Read more about these routines in our blog, 5 Things Business Owners Can Do Every Day to Increase Motivation.
Are you finding it difficult to stay motivated in your business? Let’s schedule a free meeting to discuss how you can increase your motivation and productivity.