Lack of motivation can be addressed with structure, direction
Do you sometimes lack motivation to work on your projects? Ever experience one of those days when you have no motivation to do anything? Some days you just can’t bring yourself to boot up that computer or dig into your pile of work. All of us do on occasion. How do you get over that “hump” and get going?
These 4 tips should help get your morning started right and help you stay motivated throughout your day.
1. Develop an agenda. Unless you are highly disciplined, a day without structure can cause aimlessness. Your mind wanders. You look around the room for something else to do. (Hey, the newspaper looks pretty inviting, doesn’t it?) You start surfing the sports or gossip websites. You need structure in your day. You need an agenda.
As I discuss in another column, an agenda plots out your day in set increments. An agenda dictates what you will work on and when. You stay focused on the various tasks you’ve set out for yourself. At the end of the day you realize you’ve accomplished quite a bit. Even more amazing, you look back and remember how you suffered a lack of motivation earlier in the day.
2. Tackle an easy task first. A difficult, boring or unpleasant task can cause a lack of motivation. Who, after all, likes to work on a project that offers nothing but grief or hardship? Give yourself a lift right away by tackling a simple project. Doing so will give you a sense of accomplishment.
Sure, you’re avoiding the inevitable, but only for a short time. Just long enough to give yourself an emotional jolt. You should find it a little easier to dive into that larger project.
3. Read something first. Get your brain “warmed up” by reading some good motivational or inspirational material. Positive motivational quotes can help inspire you to start your day, even if the previous day was not very productive. Remember: Today is a new day and another opportunity to set a new course for yourself.
A very successful network marketer I know also exercises in the morning. Getting the blood and oxygen flowing gives him a jolt of energy, he says. Try that. Do aerobic exercises for 15 minutes each morning. In addition to having more energy, you may lose some weight. That will provide added motivation.
4. Record your accomplishments in a journal. Review those each evening and on the weekend. Give yourself a mental pat on the back for a job well done. Your confidence will increase as you realize that you are able to accomplish a great deal. Leverage that sense of accomplishment to start your new week on a high note.
How do you stay motivated? What tips can you offer? Feel free to comment below. I’d like to hear from you, as will other readers.
For additional tips on helping you enjoy a more productive day, see “How to be more productive in 3 easy steps” and “Be more disciplined with email.”
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Holy smokes! You are one energetic woman, Chery. Good for you.
I often use an agenda and try to spend about a half-hour reading in the morning.
My brain just isn’t functioning well enough early on to try some writing.
Reading helps a lot.
I agree about email: limit that to two or three visits per day.
The hardest part I realized back when I was president of the New Berlin
Rotary club was ignoring Rotary messages. I had to discipline myself and
address them only after hours. It took awhile, but I managed to change
my habit.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Chery.
Hey Tom!
I am one who always starts my day out with yoga and stretch exercises. I then take about 15 minutes and listen to some sort of Mindset MP3.
I always start with my e-mail and get this out of the way. I have learned through the years there really is no need to keep on checking my e-mail every hour.
I do write and agenda every night of things I need to get done each day and then after my e-mail are read and notes taken I am ready to look at this and start my day.
I do agree having an agenda is the only way to move forward as well as monitoring what and how you do each task..
Thanks for sharing Tom..
Chery 🙂