Some
days we are just not as motivated as other days.
There are days we get up and are ready to tackle the world, and there are other
days we would rather crawl back in the bed. Where I live we have had record
breaking cold, snow and ice for days and I have been feeling a bit sluggish and
just wanting to stay in the bed under my warm covers. I am a runner, but I have
found it most difficult to find the motivation to go out in the blistering cold
and run for miles while my fingertips and toes feel frozen. It has taken me
about 20 minutes each time this week to get layered to go out and run. My
joints were stiffer when I went out running in the cold. Needless to say I was
not feeling motivated to run!
I am also a published author and writer, and I need to
be motivated to promote my book and to find the creativity to write daily. It
has just been one of those days. I woke up to freezing cold weather again this
morning and did not run but walked very quickly halfway around my neighborhood.
I came back after my short walk and sat at my computer hoping the words would
come for my writing today. They did not! I got up from my computer a couple of
hours later after making no real progress and asked myself a few questions why
I was not feeling motivated and what could I do about it, if anything.
►What can you do if you just are not feeling motivated:
1) Scan
your body. Are you feeling tired, sick, and/or is it that ‘time of the month”
for women.
2) Be
aware of your thoughts. Take an inventory of what you are saying to yourself or
allowing into your mind.
3) Are
you taking regular breaks during your day? Take small breaks at least every 2
hours, especially if you work at a desk. Get up during those times and take a
walk or make a cup of tea. Nature can be all you need to get motivated.
4) Connect
with others who can motivate and encourage you. If you don’t have a strong
support system that does this for you, allow God to be your encourager. Realize
others won’t always be around to motivate you, so you must learn to motivate
yourself. The most successful people know how to motivate themselves.
5) If
you have one “off day” where your motivation is low, realize that is normal and
start again the next day. Don’t give up if you have one or two days of a lack
of motivation.
6) Don’t
wait to feel motivated to get started, get started anyways and it is likely the
motivation will catch up.
7) If
you’re lacking motivation because of a big project ahead, take small steps
towards your project. Just make small steps forward everyday towards your
goals.
8) Distractions
can cause you not to feel as motivated. Put your smart phone in another room or
on silent, shut your office door and keep on schedule as much as possible.
9) Declutter
your workspace. A cluttered office or home can contribute to a lack of
motivation.
10) Remember
your former successes and reflect on that you can achieve great things.
Celebrate all your successes, small and large.
11) Depression
saps motivation and especially in the winter months where the majority of
people are not getting enough sunlight to boost those feel-good
neurotransmitters in our brains. Exercising will release feel-good
neurotransmitters that will enhance your motivation.
12) Read
books, listen to podcasts or watch videos of people who motivate and inspire
you.
Any
other suggestions how to motivate yourself? I would love to hear from you!
►For practical help in how disciplining your mind can help
with improving your motivation, check out my latest book release, “Disciplining your mind, 30 days to a better
you!”
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