8 Ways to Find Motivation

Whether you have one long to-do list or one sizeable project that seems insurmountable, it can be hard to roll up those sleeves and get to work without the motivation.

Motivation waxes and wanes and the mental wherewithal required for daily living can often keep motivation at bay. Disinterest, distractions, apathy, fatigue, boredom and lethargy can all get in the way of accomplishing tasks.

Yet there are ways to push through and muster the motivation to “get ‘er done.” Here are eight stimulating tips for getting your motivation back.

Take a Walk. It’s as simple as putting one foot in front of the other. Even a short, 10-minute trek around the neighborhood is enough to boost your interest and energy level to then take on what needs doing. Momentum equals progress!

Eat the Frog First. There’s often one task on your list that you dread most. Do it first. Doing the hardest thing first lifts the weight of the obligation and makes everything else seem easy. Without it hanging over you, you’re able to move forward with ease to address the other items on your list.

Make a List. Got a lot to do? Write it all down then cross off tasks as you complete them. Doing so creates a strong sense of self-gratification, which in itself is very motivating.

Tell Someone What You’re Doing. Talk about the task ahead of you with friends and family. By telling others what you’re up to, you’ll create self-pressure to perform. Knowing you’re accountable will serve as positive motivation ('I told everyone I was doing this, so I’d better do it.').

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize. Give yourself an incentive and establish a prize for completing your task. It doesn’t have to be big—a lunch date with the girls, your favorite coffee treat, a movie night, a nice foot soak. Give yourself something to look forward to while you’re working toward that positive reinforcement.

Make a Game Out of It. Adopt the Mary Poppins philosophy—when work is fun, it doesn’t feel like work. Gotta clean out the garage? Find one item in the clutter for every letter of the alphabet. Removing wallpaper? Pretend you’re an ace detective looking for buried clues beneath the surface. Have several items to click off your daily list? Use an egg timer to see how fast you can go and strive to break your own daily record.

Break It Down. Sometimes we’re overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of a job. Divide and conquer it. Dissect your task into small steps and start with just one small step. Make it an easy one. It will give you a quick sense of accomplishment and the motivation to keep going.

Pick a Theme Song. What’s the one song that really fires you up? (Think Rocky.) Pick a song that gets your juices flowing and make it your theme song. Whenever there’s a job to do and you don’t feel like doing it, crank up the volume on your theme song and dive in!