Before you start anything big, new, scary or even mundane, you need to motivate yourself to do a good job. Here are some tips that will help you become motivated and stay on track:
1. Write a to-do list
Write a list every morning just before you start your day. If you’re feeling particularly anxious about a big project or a looming deadline, creating a to-do list the night before can help. And don’t forget to break down big projects into smaller activities to keep your progression viable and help motivate you.
Writing a to-do list daily might seem daunting, but keep at it; it will soon become part of your daily life. It’s a simple task that will help you focus, and you’ll feel accomplished when you tick off each task. Let goal setting become a habit and a positive part of your life.
2. Reward yourself
Reward yourself for completed tasks and accomplished goals. Your reward could be something small like making a cup of tea or coffee when you finish writing a report or a relaxing bubble bath in the evening after presenting all day. When you complete something that you have found particularly difficult or have been striving to achieve for a while, your reward may be something bigger, like a spa day, a new handbag, or a new golf club.
3. Get inspired
Think about who inspires you. It might be an entrepreneur who’s achieving the kind of things you want to achieve or a friend or acquaintance who is super-organised. Spend time with them, watch their YouTube videos, follow them on social media, and let some of their inspirational energy rub off on you.
If there’s a particular quote that inspires you write it somewhere visible so that you see it every day – all day if possible.
4. Start early in the day
Getting up in the morning can be difficult, but ticking off tasks on your to-do list early can have a positive ripple effect on the rest of your day. You’ll feel accomplished early in the day, resulting in you feeling motivated and confident for the rest of the day. Start your day big, and the momentum will keep you rolling. Then you have the whole evening to yourself to relax.
5. Create a vision board
A vision board makes you feel good and helps you focus on your end goal, naturally inspiring and motivating you. Perhaps a pretty postcard of a destination you would love to travel to, a picture of your chosen reward for when you complete the project or reach your goal, a motivational quote that makes you feel good, or a picture of your favourite entrepreneur. Looking at your vision board regularly will give you a boost and help you stay on track to reach your goals.
6. Visualise success
Visualisation is one of the most powerful exercises you can do, and Olympic athletes have been doing it for years to improve their performance. It’s reported that the brain patterns activated when a weightlifter lifts heavy weights are also similarly activated when the lifter imagines lifting weights. Every morning, visualise how you want your day to turn out, then jump out of bed and have a successful day.
7. Set effective goals
Break your goals into smaller chunks – instead of saying, “I’m going to write a report”, break it down into steps. For example, you need to research the topic, plan what you will say, write a draft and write a final copy. Your goals should be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely – which will ensure that you can reach your goals in a focused and measured way and within a deadline too.
If you’re unsure how to set effective goals or find what works best for you, contact us to arrange a free initial consultation.
Author: Gemma Rolstone | Publsihed 25th August 2018
