Sometimes there are just days where it’s just too tough to even get going. These are the days when you just want to crawl back to bed and stay there the whole day. Yes, it’s okay to have rest days and to just take a step back as part of self-care. But, these special days of relaxation shouldn’t be a common occurrence, especially if there is a lot to do, such as work and other commitments. Here are some tips to get you out of the funk and help you motivate yourself to move forward. Cheers to becoming a better you!
1. Find something that sparks energy
When it comes to motivation, taking on everything that day isn’t the only option. It could just be setting your mind to complete one or two tasks, such as exercising and eating healthy.
What do you think will spark energy for you? Think about the reasons why you’re doing something. That can help energize you.
Many people know why they must do something, and they remember why it makes them feel a certain way. But, over time, it becomes easy to forget why you started doing it in the first place.
For example, if you’re finding it hard to put on your running shoes today, think about why you were doing it in the first place. Was it to lose weight? Was it to get into better shape?
Reminding yourself why you’re doing something and remembering the end goal can help increase the energy for it once again. If one of your goals is to get ripped and build muscle, imagine yourself achieving that goal and how you want to feel in the future. This takes us to the next point.
2. Visualize the future to motivate yourself
Procrastination gets the best of everyone now and then. To overcome it, try thinking about the result. Doing so can be powerful enough to remove that overwhelming urge to delay doing the task.
So, do you have a clear vision at the end of the journey? As stated above, knowing why you’re doing something will give you that boost of energy to get motivated. Knowing your “why” is going to help to envision the end of the goal. This is your ideal future.
If you need help with visualization, there are many different methods. The one that works the best is a personal preference.
One visualization technique that some people find works well for them is to create goal pictures. This method involves taking a photo of yourself with the goal, as if you’ve completed it already. For instance, if your objective is to run a local marathon, you could cut out a headline from the newspaper about the race and take a photo of you with the newspaper.
It also can be helpful to write down the goal on an index card and keep it where you will see it daily. Once a day, read the card and then close your eyes, imagining yourself achieving the goal.
3. Get an accountability buddy
Sometimes, it can be especially hard going on a journey alone. Many people are trying to switch to having a healthier lifestyle, such as exercising more or trying to lose weight.
These objectives often benefit from having an accountability partner. One option is to ask someone to keep you accountable, such as a spouse or a friend. This individual can encourage and cheer you on. Or, you can even find someone who is also needing to go through the same journey as you, and you motivate one another along the way to the end goal.
Honestly, accountability can be anything; it just doesn’t need to be about losing weight. If you want an accountability buddy that has just set goals (in general), then just keep each other motivated. If one of your goals is to get your CPR and First Aid Certification Online, and their goal is to get a promotion, motive one another and cheer!
4. Rewards to motivate yourself
Sometimes the end goal is one that is going to take significant time and effort to achieve. While this one is going to provide the biggest reward of them all, it’s helpful to set shorter goals toward the main one and reward yourself each time you hit a milestone.
Rewarding yourself for the hard work is a great way to motivate yourself, especially if you reach the goal in a specified time frame. If you’re trying to shed a few pounds, you can reward yourself with something nice every time you hit a milestone, such as five pounds. Ideally, you’ll want the reward to be something affordable that you can constantly enjoy and put to use instantly like a workout subscription, new outfit, or maybe even a weekend trip!
What are some other ways to motivate yourself? Do you find it hard to keep up the energy after setting a goal?
This is a good post. Finding something that sparks energy is really what we should do more in life. We shouldn’t go down random work paths just because it’s what society tells us to do (study, earn a living, die).
Anyway, thanks for this post!
These are very good tips, Christy. I am working on these things.
I really like this post.