Feeling sluggish and uninspired? Unable to move forward on big projects or goals because the motivation just isn’t there?
We’ve all been there.
The big question is: How do we fix it?
While motivation can come and go in waves, wouldn’t it be easier if you had some go-to strategies to bring it back in your life and help it stay for good?
If you’re struggling to find motivation and overall productivity, try some of the following tips to find your groove and finally conquer everything on your to-do list each day:
Find Motivational Quotes and Videos
Sometimes finding your motivation is as simple as reading up some inspirational quotes or watching a fantastic TED Talk on Youtube. I love creating and referring to my Inspiration board on Pinterest when I’m in need of a little push in order to be more productive during the day. I even have a motivational quote set as my phone’s lock screen to remind me to get back to work if I start wandering towards procrastinating or distractions.
If you’re not sure about what quotes or videos you should read or watch, here are some of my favorites:
“Stop doubting yourself, work hard, and make it happen.”
“You can’t expect to succeed if you only put in work on the days you feel like it.”
“Quotes don’t work unless you do.”
If you’re interested in more inspirational quotes, I highly recommend following my Pinterest board, where I regularly add some of my favorite motivational quotes throughout each week!
Either create your own Pinterest board filled with your favorite motivational quotes or write them down in your journal or on a whiteboard and refer to them every time you need an extra push for motivation through the day. This way you can save time from searching for quotes or inspiration every time you’re in a rut, and get right back to the motivation!
Stop Complaining
No really, quit it.
Complaining does nothing except give you excuses for not doing what you need to do. Sure, having a venting session with your best friend every once in a while when life just seems a bit too hard is okay, but don’t let it become a habit that controls the way you approach life. Constant negative self-talk gets you absolutely nowhere, and to be honest no one really wants to hear it anyway.
Start paying attention to what you say and think throughout the day. Your thoughts and beliefs have a direct effect on your actions and identity. If you’re constantly thinking or talking about how you’re always tired, unmotivated, and uninspired, guess what you’ll most likely feel on a regular basis? Do you really think that saying and thinking these things are going to help you with your quest for more productivity and motivation? I highly doubt it.
An exercise you can try is writing down your regular thoughts and descriptions you find yourself saying and thinking. Notice what’s negative versus what’s more productive and positive. Try to shift and rewrite all of the negative thoughts into positive affirmations, even if they aren’t necessarily what you truly feel about yourself right now.
For example, if you find yourself saying, “I never get anything done on time,” switch it to, “I’m always productive and on top of my game.” Anything similar and positive, even if it’s currently not necessarily true! The more you think and say it, the more likely you’ll start to adopt those habits, and make the affirmation come true.
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Move Your Body
Exercise is an excellent way to create motivation and get those creative juices flowing. Moving your body on a regular basis is known to help create more alertness and energy both physically and mentally. This will lead to a higher rate of productivity and motivation in your regular life!
Even something as simple as going for a 10 to 15-minute walk each day can have a substantially positive impact in your life. While I personally still struggle to work out regularly, the key is to find a physical activity you really enjoy. This can range from yoga, jogging, biking, or even turning on some music and dancing around in your room for 10 minutes a couple times a day.
Create Goals
Sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation to be productive or move forward on projects or errands when you don’t have an end goal in mind. Setting goals or personal deadlines are great ways to motivate yourself and get work done. Write your goals down and set them somewhere you can refer to and see on a regular basis. This will keep your deadlines on the forefront of your mind and help you work towards something specific.
Don’t forget to keep track of your progress! If you have large, long-term goals, make sure you break them down to small goals along the way to help you feel less overwhelmed and acknowledge the amazing progress you’re making along the way!
Remember to Take Productive Breaks
Sometimes you need to take a step back in order to regain your mojo. Around a month ago I actually had to take about a week off from writing in order to avoid completely burning out. However, to avoid overwhelm and maintain a more regular amount of productivity, I highly recommend taking scheduled and productive breaks throughout your day.
Some ways you can take beneficial breaks include:
- Take a power nap
- Eat a healthy snack
- Go for a walk
- Stretch
- Meditate
- Do something away from any screens
Set your timer for 10 to 20 minutes (or however long you have to take a break) and make the most of your allotted time. I personally love using a Pomodoro Timer when I need to work on big projects at a time. It breaks down your work into 20-25 minute chunks and gives you 5-10 minute breaks after every productive work session. The timer really helps my motivation to stay focused on my task at hand, knowing that I’ll have a break after I’m productive for just 25 minutes at a time!
Change Your Work Setting (If Possible)
Not everyone may have the ability to do this if you’re strapped at a desk or cubicle at work, but if you find yourself in a rut, sometimes a little extra kick in motivation can come from a change in scenery. I currently work from home, so I can get flexible about where I want to work on certain days. I know that if I keep working in the same spot in my house or the same coffee shop every day I’ll start to lose my motivation and overall creativity. In order to avoid or fix this issue, I try and switch up where I work on a rather regular basis.
If you don’t have the ability to move around, maybe try simply standing while doing your work, or reorganize your desk a bit. The fresh perspective could give you a little extra kick start for your overall motivation.
Turn Off Notifications
I never realized how much push notifications distracted me and killed my motivation throughout my work day once I started working from home. You really don’t need to be notified about the likes your picture is getting on Instagram, or if someone replied to your clever tweet. Those notifications will be there when you open the apps on your phone. You’ll survive, I promise.
Listen to Exciting and Motivational Music
Is there a type of music that really gets you fired up? Listen to it before or while you work! I cycle through a few different genres of music depending on what I need to get done during the day. If I need to clean my apartment, I usually put on some sort of upbeat Pop playlist from Spotify. However, if I need to write a blog post or do something creative, I usually prefer my Afternoon Acoustic, Creativity Boost, and Coffeehouse playlists. Sometimes I also like listening to instrumental movie scores from some of my favorite films like Marvel and Harry Potter to really help me feel pumped and motivated to get work done.
Create a Routine
Sometimes what you need in order to get into a more motivated and productive mindset is an established and regular routine before you start your work. While I personally don’t have an elaborate routine before I get my day started, I know that I absolutely need to take time with my breakfast in the morning. Breakfast was always a requirement with my family while growing up, and now if I’m not able to have it to start my day I’ll feel out of it for a while.
If you’re interested in creating and implementing a routine, consider including some of the following activities:
- Journaling
- Exercising
- Meditation
- Healthy Breakfast
- Stretching/Yoga
- Reading
You can add anything you’d like to personalize your routine. After all, it should include anything that helps you feel more overall motivated and productive on a regular basis.
Just START
I can’t tell you how many times I haven’t really felt like doing something productive like cleaning or writing a blog post for a client, but as soon as I force myself to simply start, the motivation to continue and finish begins to arrive. Sometimes the best solution to your lack of motivation is to simply sit that booty down, set a timer for 10 minutes, and start working. Usually, after those 10 minutes, you’ll want to keep going. You’re done before you know it!
Motivation may ebb and flow, but using these ten tips can help you sustain and bring motivation back into your life on a more regular basis.
What do you do when you need to feel more motivated? Let me know in the comments!
With love,
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Great tips Sara! Switching up my work setting has been something that has really worked for me, so it’s awesome that it’s a suggestion on your list! Sometimes it’s just a matter of getting some different scenery to respark your motivation!
These are great tips!! I’ve been trying to be more aware of what I choose to think about and focus on and I realized that oftentimes, it’s easy to get into a negative mindset which just feeds into one another and just think about things that frustrates us… so I’m trying to channel that energy into the goals that I want to accomplish instead. When I’m able to do that, it feels incredible!
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