We all go through different seasons in life. Some days are full of energy and motivation while others not so much. In this post I’m going to give you some tips on how to motivate yourself for those moments when you’re not feeling in the mood to take necessary action.
There are so many reasons why we as human beings experience a lack of motivation. It’s not realistic or even possible to be motivated every day at all times. “Life happens” and we experience transitions such as starting a new job, progressing in a relationship, moving, etc. There are also unexpected transitions such as illnesses, accidents and deaths of loved ones.
We chose the human experience and with that comes human emotions. We aren’t robots on autopilot. With that being addressed, I wanted to share some tips to get motivation back in order to take action not just towards goals but towards every day to-do tasks too.
Listen to your body
First of all, please acknowledge that being human comes with waves of inspiration and a lack thereof. It’s really important to check in with yourself and recognize why you’re currently feeling unmotivated. When you get to the root cause of it, it will bring not only clarity but also empathy.
If you recently went through a difficult life transition then give yourself grace for not having motivation to do things. Focus on your healing as much as you can, if possible. If you still have to proceed and take action, follow the following tips!
Set goals (big or small)
Now that you know whether to rest or take action, the next step is to set goals for yourself. This doesn’t have to be anything complicated at all. By goals, I mean the actual tasks you wish to accomplish no matter how small. You can simply use the notepad in your phone to jot down your list. If you find yourself creating a long to-do list, organize them in priority order so you can focus on the first 3 every day.
Ideally, I suggest you write your goals in a notebook or journal so you can see them in front of you. One of the reasons this is important is because you’re giving yourself permission to want something more. These goals were placed in your heart for a reason and it’s okay to want to achieve them.
Figure out your “why”
After coming up with your goals, the next step is to figure out your “why.” Why do you want to take action on your list? Once again, ideally, write it out in the same journal. It can help to set your phone’s timer to 5 minutes and free write after asking yourself the question.
Figuring out a deep “Why” for a mundane to-do list helps too because now you have a reason or multiple reasons to begin taking action. Try to think of the bigger picture when figuring out your why. For example, if you’re unmotivated to complete household tasks, one of the reasons you might think to jot down is, “So my house isn’t a mess.” But when you dive deeper, you may find that it goes beyond that. Completing household tasks will bring serenity and potentially improve your relationships in the household that stem from that peace and tidiness.
Reward yourself
Now that you know why you want to take action, the next step on how to motivate yourself is to come up with a “reward” for yourself for accomplishing your goals. Again, these rewards don’t have to be over the top things (unless that’s your style). They can be little treats such as watching an episode of your favorite show after completing your to-do list. Or buying that new book you’ve been wanting after completing your school/work tasks. Or even allowing yourself to sleep in an extra 30 mins or an hour once you complete that big project you’ve been working on for weeks.
Play around with this until you find what works for you. One tip is to use rewards that correlate with your goal. For example, if you want to accomplish a fitness goal, reward yourself with a new pair of workout leggings or a healthy smoothie from that juice bar you love.
Find motivation
This isn’t on the top of my list on how to motivate yourself because I believe there’s a fine line to look out for. Sometimes when we look outside ourselves to get motivated, it can potentially backfire. Make sure you have the right intention when looking for motivation from others, otherwise you might get in the comparison trap and feel down on yourself.
You got this though so with that being said, some ways you can get motivated are by watching motivational videos on YouTube or other social media platforms. Follow inspirational pages on your social media that share encouraging posts on a daily basis. Read success stories of people similar to you so you can gain inspiration to accomplish your goals too. Know that when you see others accomplishing goals, it is possible for you too. Everyone starts in the same place.
Find accountability
If all else fails and you still can’t seem to motivate yourself, find someone who will hold you accountable. It can be a friend or loved one but make sure they are really going to hold you accountable like you asked. Sometimes when we seek accountability from our significant other they may feel empathetic and let things slide. That’s why it’s important to find like-minded friends who can provide “tough love” if that’s what you want. Working with a coach (I’m here when you’re ready) is also a great option if you’re serious about getting to the next level of your life.
Final thoughts
There you have it. I hope you now know how to motivate yourself during those uninspired seasons of your life. Remember to first ask yourself if you NEED to change anything in the first place. Sometimes we have to simply just be and allow the moment to pass but if you find that it’s been longer than you desire, now you have some tools to use.
The final reminder is to always BE KIND to yourself. Treat yourself as you would treat a close friend. You can show a little bit of tough love but don’t be mean to yourself because that won’t help. Let me know your thoughts! How do you motivate yourself? Let me know below or on Instagram. My DM’s are always open.
Let’s work together!
- If you’re really ready to create the life you want
- If you want to increase your happiness and feel more confident in who you are
- If you want to trust yourself more and live on purpose
I can help you! Schedule your clarity call to work with me HERE!
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