We all suffer from periods when our motivation takes a nose-dive, especially as we prepare for The Event. Such periods are draining, and it often seems to take too much work to get out of them. Sometimes itâs cyclical. You start to do something, get motivated for a while, and then the motivation suddenly dissipates, and you have to put in the work to get it back. Right now, with the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone needs some motivation.
There is value in the ability to motivate yourself, and the most important ingredient for self-motivation is a positive attitude. Even Viktor Frankl, a concentration camp survivor, extolled the value of having the right attitude when all you can control is that. You should seriously read his book, Manâs Search for Meaning. He noticed in the camps that those with the most hope and the most positive attitudes were the ones most likely to survive. The fact of the matter is that your circumstances are beyond your control. In fact, just about everything is beyond your control, except for one thing: your attitude. That is the only thing most people have control over in their lives. So take care of it, and it will bloom.
For self-motivation to work, you have to develop the right mental chop and apply them frequently and consistently. That way, self-motivation will be right at your fingertips whenever you need it.
In this article, weâre going to explore some of these powerful self-motivation techniques. In fact, Iâm feeling generous today, so Iâll give you 8 of them. By the end, you should be able to switch on self-motivation at a momentâs notice.
1. The power of music
Music is a powerful aphrodisiac and can help us power through even the most mundane of tasks. Just ask people who do a lot of long-distance running, or me, who can get through a weekâs worth of dishes with the right playlist.
Music has the power to pick you up when youâre not feeling up for a particular task, and should therefore be number one on your list of motivational techniques. It doesnât matter which particular music you listen to. It could be pop music, with catchy lyrics, or something purely instrumental, like classical music. To be entirely honest, it doesnât even have to be music at all. It could be just white noise. Whatever it is, find something that excites your soul and put it to play when you have an important (or not-so-important but not particularly enjoyable either) task to get through.
2. Start by keeping things simple
Apart from music, there might be other motivators that can easily get you up and running in no time. These âtriggersâ should constantly be in your workspace, as they will come to your rescue when you need the energy to do some task.
You should also identify your own brand of motivation. There are numerous assessments online that can help you find your motivational style. We all work in different ways, and different things spark us to get things done. Knowing what works for you is a good first step to acting self-motivation.
3. Mind your company
Attitudes are contagious, and an effective way to ensure yours remains positive and enthusiastic is to keep the company of people who have positive and enthusiastic attitudes themselves. According to the essay writing service in usa, if you want to keep your motivation levels high, stick around people whose own motivation levels are high. This could be as simple as having a sit-around with people who like to discuss the same ideas as you, or chatting with friends with whom you feel close.
The other side of the coin is that being around negative people will suck the energy from you. No matter how self-motivated you are as an individual, people with negative attitudes will eventually pull you down to their level. Donât let this happen. Instead, hang around optimistic people who are constantly looking for opportunities to grow, even during the toughest of times.
4. Set goals
Goals are powerful, and the most successful people all seem to be goal-oriented. Try to set goals for what you want to do: today, this week, this year, and as far out as you can manage. Try to make them SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, and Timely). Take an extra step and write down your goals, to make them even clearer.
But it doesnât end there. Break down your goals into even smaller goals, and then break those down. Keep breaking them down until you reach an irreducible unit goal that you can do right now, then start ticking those smaller goals off your list one by one, until you achieve the larger goal. Most importantly, remember that all goals are important, even the smaller ones.
5. Keep a schedule
This builds on the point above about setting goals. If you set a time to do something that is on your goal list, you are more likely to do it. Have a list of a few things (not too many) that you should do every day. Prepare that list the day before, and then make sure you tick everything off the list the next day. This will give you a feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day as you accomplish what you set out to accomplish.
6. Never forget your why
While self-motivation is often talked about in the context of stuff we have to do but donât enjoy doing. But sometimes even stuff we normally enjoy doing can lose its allure. Self-motivation is just as important as.
A good technique to use when such situations arise is to remind ourselves why we are doing that particular thing in the first place. For example, in my work as a writer from the paper writing services reviews, I sometimes see dips in motivation, even though I thoroughly enjoy writing most of the time. I have to remind myself why I love writing, and why I got into writing as a career in the first place. My âwhyâ was that I enjoy being able to clearly express myself, and the idea that I might have an outsized impact on someoneâs life because of my writing greatly inspires me. Every time I remind myself of that, the will to work comes easier.
7. Get rid of distractions
Quite often, it seems like there is no end to distracting factors when we want to get something important done. As Andrew Grey says, the self-motivational writer at assignment writing service, the worst thing about them is that they creep up on you, seemingly innocuous, until suddenly you notice you havenât got anything done in hours and an important deadline is approaching (looking at you, YouTube rabbit holes). This is why we need to be ruthless about eliminating distractions from our work environment.
If you live with others, either isolate yourself when youâre working or let them know that they cannot interrupt you, no matter how well-meaning they are. Alternatively, if this is impossible, consider getting some noise-canceling headphones and listening to your favorite music while you work. You should also keep off social media while working. It has the uncanny ability to suck you into rabbit holes that youâll go down for hours.
8. Reward yourself
Like many other species, human beings are more motivated to do something when a reward is perceived at the end. Remember to reward yourself when you achieve a goal that you set, no matter how small. It could be a cup of coffee, a day out having fun, or a holiday. It doesnât have to be too expensive, and the reward should match the accomplished task. What matters most is that you reward yourself in some way for the things you achieve. This will spur you to do even more!
Conclusion
The tips and techniques above are powerful and are bound to make your self-motivation and productivity soar if you apply them. By tying them one step at a time, you should be a self-motivated individual by the time the year is up.
