Motivation

Motivation is a hot topic these days, and it is no secret why. Motivation is an extremely crucial part of getting through the day and successfully doing what we set out to accomplish.

There seems to be a very positive and cheery light shed on motivation. Motivation is great, and if you have it, it is even better! BUT what about when we are not motivated?

I don’t know about you, but if I said that I am always motivated and jumping up and down at the thought of doing what needs to be done I would be a complete liar. There are times and even entire days that I don’t want to do anything. All I want to do is lounge around, watch tv and eat snacks. While this is something that I have done (more often than I would care to admit) and do really enjoy, it is clearly not the most effective use of my time and at the end of the day it is not going to get me any closer to achieving my goals.

It is my belief that we need to actively look for and recruit sources of motivation. There are so many different sources of motivation in today’s world and I think that is often overlooked. Pretty much anything you want to do someone else wants to do as well or has already done. One simple search on Google can lead you to an endless supply of songs, podcasts, videos, lectures, and so many other things that the list in endless. You pretty much have to go out of your way to avoid motivation because it is all around us! Anything can be motivational if you chose to see it that way.

I am often asked by friends and coworkers how I stay motivated. My answer typically involves something about discipline and habit. However I do have a few things that I go back to from time to time to get a helpful nudge in the right direction. A few of those things include:

• Family and friends
  • For me this is so HUGE! Accountability is a very big part of motivation for me. Telling people what my goals are is very important because they can keep me going on the right path.
• Music
  • If I am laying in bed dreading the thought of getting up and going sometimes turning on some of my favorite “pump up” tunes will boost my spirit.
• Goals
  • This one may seem like a given but goals are an excellent way to keep the motivation going. For example… Why go to the gym just to get there and have no idea what to do? By creating a workout plan and a target you have also just created a reason get out there and do it!
• Competition
  • Though this may not be the best and healthiest way to go about doing things, it can work! Trying to prove someone or yourself wrong can be very fulfilling.

Motivation doesn’t always come easy and often times we have to work at it (no matter what those trendy “fitness/life influencers” have to say).

Make a list, make a vision board or even make a small post-it note, but write stuff down! One of the most overlooked and often laughed at things when it comes to motivation is a physical and tangible reminder. Sometimes we need something more than just a mental note.

I encourage you to make a list of a few things you want/need to do but have not done. Think about why you have not. Think about what is standing in your way? On that same piece of paper (or document) you should also make a list of things that motivate you. Review your list of wants or needs and also your motivators, see if you can craft some kind of realistic plan that implements those forms of motivation and achieve a new goal!