Motivation is a mysterious process. It involves the ability to link a desire to begin a new adventure with the energy needed to take the first step. Then it involves the ability to keep the flames of determination kindled throughout the entire journey.
Maintaining motivation doesn’t mean that every moment of the journey from start to finish is exciting. It’s common to find yourself…
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Lacking motivation to continue forward with your goal
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Bored with the everyday responsibilities required to achieve success
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Tired and dulled by the unanticipated length of time it is taking to achieve your goal
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Sluggish, uninspired, and overwhelmed to complete the job
How do you regain that inner spark to continue moving forward even when the required tasks are difficult, tedious, or tiresome?
Below are four practical strategies to overcome feeling lethargic, bored stiff, or distracted and regain the necessary motivational juice needed to focus on achieving success.
1. Take Ten
Feeling tired and unmotivated? Give yourself a ten-minute energy break by moving your body. Light exercise fights fatigue and boosts energy. Often, when we’re feeling lethargic, exercise is the last thing we want to do. But if you’ve been inactive, sitting all day, or solely focused on your goal, a little activity will provide renewed spark. Movement will enhance your blood flow, bringing more oxygen to your body which will increase your energy. Exercise also enhances the endorphins that make you feel great and help you relieve stress. Next time you’re feeling sluggishly unmotivated, go for a brisk walk in the fresh air, get on your treadmill, or just do some jumping jacks. Often, a little bit of movement can leave you revived, refreshed, and ready to refocus on your most important goals.
2. The Reward System
What enhances motivation? Being able to focus on success and acknowledge success leads to more success. Make sure to acknowledge and reward all your positive behaviors and efforts soon after you notice them. Without recognition and reward, it is easy to become frustrated and even cynical about your ability to effectively reach your goal. Find rewards that ignite an inner sense of satisfaction, enthusiasm, competence, and empowerment. Then use that positive energy to keep going!
3. Surround yourself with Support
Motivation comes from within – but often books, tapes, CD’s, and accomplished people can help uncover factors that are holding you back. When you’re feeling bored and uninspired, the right message at the right time can help boost your motivation momentum. However, don’t spend all your time learning. As soon as you notice your motivational energy is flowing again, shift your attention back to your goal and take the right action for the amount of energy that is present.
4. Manage Stress
It’s a common myth that fear is a great motivator. While it is true worry, self-criticism, yelling at yourself, or pushing yourself to succeed can get you started on your journey, it is also true that fear is only useful in the short term. Over the long haul, those behaviors generate stress. Stress creates confusion, a feeling of a lack of control, a loss of focus, and feelings of overwhelm. Excess stress exhausts your mind and body, and it’s difficult to have high levels of motivation if you’re exhausted. The bottom line – stress works against motivation. To beat stress get enough rest, drink plenty of water all day long, take breathing breaks, and get some physical activity.
If your goals have turned dull and monotonous, used these four powerful strategies to regain your motivation. Once your motivation is fired up again, you’ll have renewed drive to complete your project!
Author Resource: Want to learn more about how to live consciously, love deeply, and laugh often? Come along with Annette Colby and learn the secrets to creating the life you’ve always wanted to live! Subscribe to her blog Divine Self! today.
