We’ve all heard the quote, ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’, but is it always so easy to find the will?
If you feel Monday Blues kicking in, and your usual cup of coffee fails to energize you—or your mind—you probably end up relying on the antithesis of productivity :procrastination. If this is your Achilles heel, don’t worry, we’ve all been there. But how do we get out of this seemingly endless spiral of being unproductive?
At times, it can be very hard to motivate yourself and find the will to get going. Whether you have annual goals, a deadline to meet or just need some inspiration, we have chalked down 5 effective ways to motivate yourself.
1. Create a Working Space
When you want to get in the mood to work, you need to get out of bed. Many people find it hard to work from home, not because they aren’t being supervised, but because you don’t allocate the working space to activate your mind.
See, your mind signals the body to sleep when you’re working on your bed, so don’t expect to find any motivation or productivity there. If you want to get your mind rolling, you need to create a working space at home. Get an ergonomic chair and an office desk with all the accessories you’d need to concentrate on.
2. Invest in White Lights
While there may be several ways to alert your mind, we have jotted down ways that are proven to boost productivity. If you’re wondering why your energy levels aren’t that high, consider the lighting of your home. Yes, you heard right! It plays a major role in our physical and mental well-being.
Research shows that cooler lighting makes us more productive while warmer lights create a sense of comfort and intimacy, signaling the mind to relax. This may be hampering your productivity and motivation.
3. Find a Compelling WHY
If you feel unmotivated, you’re probably missing your why. Simply put, your why is the reason for you to do something, your purpose in life. Why do you need to exercise? Why do you need to complete that project? Find the reason you need to do a task, and make sure it’s convincing.
If you are working 9 to 5 to pay the bills but still feel unmotivated, your why is probably not strong enough. Find out what drives you and create a why around that. If the steady paycheck doesn’t motivate you, find something you like to do and devote some time to pursue it. You are ambitious and you can turn your passion into something that you earn money from. Don’t doubt yourself.
4. Break Down Tasks
When you see a mountain in front of you, you’d probably feel unmotivated and give up the task altogether. So how do you find the motivation? The best way to not overwhelm yourself is to take your goals one step at a time. To do that, you need to break down your goals into smaller, more doable tasks. Smaller goals are easier to achieve.
For example, instead of thinking you need to achieve a six-figure income in 5 years, think of what you need to do every month to tread towards the end goal. When we see something tangible, we’ll feel more motivated and driven.
5. Say No to Negative Self-Talk
Unfortunately, we can be the harshest critics at times. How would you feel if a boss kept critiquing you all the time? Your motivation would most likely plummet. Now imagine how your mind is bound to feel with the negative self-talk that you feed it every day, 24/7?
If you want to feel motivated, make a conscious effort to stop the criticism. Make sure you appreciate yourself and realize your achievements, no matter how small they are. With this attitude, you’re much likelier to feel motivated. Think about your small accomplishments. We should always make time to celebrate our small accomplishments. Take time to celebrate and speak positively about yourself.
Final Word
When motivation feels out of reach, try these 5 productivity-boosting strategies to motivate yourself. These small changes can yield significant results. Remember, progress is progress, no matter how small. Celebrate your victories, and keep pushing forward—one step at a time!