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The thing about motivation is that the only person that can help you find it when you’ve lost it, is ultimately you. Having someone give you a pep talk, might sound like a practical way to find yourself out of this funk but it doesn’t always work. Unfortunately, finding motivation isn’t as easy as reading a powerful book or watching an inspiring motivational film. Motivation is something that comes from within an individual. At the end of the day, you are the one who has to shift your thinking and snap out of a funk to keep yourself going.
Being surrounded by positive and inspiring people who help you maintain your focus might work to a certain extent but truth is, you can’t get sustainable motivation from someone else. You have to find it from within yourself. When we get stuck in a rut, it’s rarely because we don’t possess the knowledge to get out of it. We get bogged down because we cannot act on what we already know.
Ultimately, motivation doesn’t simply appear out of thin air – it takes a lot of work.
Here are 7 tips to help you get motivated when you feel you’ve lost drive:
1- BE PREPARED TO DO THE WORK
Be honest with yourself and think about it. If accomplishing all our goals and dreams whilst staying disciplined was a simple task, we’d all be living out our dream lives. A lot of people will encourage you to stay positive, optimistic, and happy and all will work out. While all these things are important, they will get you nowhere unless you’re prepared to put in the work.
This isn’t meant to discourage you, but to prepare you for what lies ahead. When you put yourself in a mindset that puts forward the notion that things won’t always come easy, you prepare yourself to take on potential obstacles and setbacks and most importantly, the hard work.
2- LOOK BACK AT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
We have all had a stage where we have been impressed with the quality of work and tend to look back at that moment with fond memories that instil a feeling of accomplishment. Looking back at all your milestones is massively motivating. Look back and reflect on these moments, try implementing a way of tracking a list of weekly, monthly, or quarterly accomplishments. Keeping track of your accomplishments in a journal or showcasing them where you can see them often, helps to instil a sense of pride in your craft. This simple tip can spur you on in moments you doubt yourself.
3- KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE
Finding your north star is a euphemism that comes to mind. There is a big difference between short-term and long-term goals. A “north star goal” is not realized in the interim but it’s about setting a long-term goal that guides how you practice your craft. It is about keeping an eye on the bigger picture and focusing on why you’re working so hard, this will help keep you focused and prioritize what’s most important to achieving the long term goal. By picking the right goal posts, you ensure you are working towards a place you want to be.
4- CLEAN UP YOUR SPACE
Working and living in a clean and organized space does wonders for your motivation. It brings a sense of clarity and If you haven’t gotten into this mind-set, try getting in the habit of making your bed 1st thing in the morning, creating a space for yourself to work in that is clutter-free and you enjoy being in. Schedule a tidy-up time during the day so you keep a lovely working space. This will ultimately do wonders for your mental clarity and productivity.
5- SEE FAILURE AS AN OPPORTUNITY
Setbacks are part of life, but they also provide you with learning opportunities. In the words of Thomas Edison, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” There will be moments when things don’t go as planned, it is important to take the time to reflect on why you got a negative outcome and learn from the experience. Everyone makes mistakes but the trick is to learn from these mistakes so you don’t keep making the same ones over and over again.
6- TEND TO YOUR EMOTIONAL NEEDS
Never underestimate your emotional needs. If you feel like you’re sleepwalking through life, or find you feel disconnected from your craft, take time to think if your core needs are being met. Maslow’s pyramid ranks our emotional needs as the third most important aspect of our well-being. To prevent burn out, invest in the things that enliven you.
7- TAKE A BREAK
It’s okay to feel uninspired sometimes. We all suffer from burn out and when you find yourself in a place where you don’t feel like working, don’t force yourself to do the work. Allow yourself the opportunity to take a break and recharge your emotional batteries.
Stop all work activates to practice a little self-care. Be sure to make use of the good days you have. On days you’re full of energy and inspiration make sure to Milk them for all their worth so that on days you simply don’t feel like working you can take a break. Please note, do not use the burn out excuses often, it will breed a culture of laziness and you will never get anything done.
Conclusion
We hope you find these tips useful in the quest to break the funk and be productive.
