Friday Five: 5 Ways to Get Motivated

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One of the hardest things to do is stay motivated. Whether you’re Type A or not, all of us struggle with this at some point in our lives. So what do you do when you’re feeling a little lost? Here are 5 ways to get motivated.

First, there’s nothing wrong with admitting that you’re not feeling motivated. Whether you’re feeling unmotivated in just one part of your life or all of it, be honest. It doesn’t do you any good to pretend. Ever. That can be said about so many things. But what do you do after that? Here is how I like to get motivated.

1. Set goals.

This is one of the things that I’ve found to be most helpful. It’s kind of like setting New Year’s resolutions. If you’re thinking to yourself that goals are too overwhelming or that you’re not able to follow through, I feel you on that. Here are some things that I think are really important to think about when you’re setting them.

• Make sure your goals are realistic. If you set unrealistic goals that will never happen, that’s a sure fire way to ensure that you will be unmotivated fast. Be realistic with yourself. Set a goal that you think you can achieve. Making the goal attainable is critical to staying interested in it and not feeling overwhelmed.
• Set timelines that work for you. You don’t need to do a year long goal. If you find that that a year is just too long of a time period for you, do a month or even a week!
• Break it up. If setting a smaller goal each month works better for you, great! I personally love to set one major goal for the full year and then break that out into a bunch of smaller goals during the year.
• Be flexible. If I’ve learned anything from having a full time job, it’s that sometimes the goals we set turn out to be impossible to achieve. And not in the way where it’s easy to make an excuse to make yourself feel better. I’m talking they actually can’t be done. If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll know when you hit this point. For example, if I set a goal to get Matt to stop playing Fortnite, that would be impossible. So be flexible. Change a goal slightly or swap it out for something else. You can’t control everything in the world so realize that and focus on what you can control.

2. Take a break. 

Whether it’s an hour or a week long, taking a break is the best way to refresh. I feel like we are all constantly in a state of exhaustion. We’re working too hard, taking on too much, and ignoring the havoc it’s wreaking on our bodies mentally and physically. There is a reason you feel a little flutter in your stomach. That’s your body’s way of telling you it needs a break! So take some time to yourself and hit the refresh button. Whether it’s watching your favorite TV show on the couch for an hour or going on a trip, you deserve it. Take care of you first.

3. Talk about it.

Talking about your goals is an added way to make sure you stay accountable. Announce it on Facebook. Tell your partner. Talk about it with your best friend. You may find that  motivates you to shape up. Not only that, but it gives you a sense of community. Another way to look at it is to team up. You can celebrate in the wins and commiserate in the losses especially if whoever you’re telling is going through the same thing. Plus, disappointing yourself is easier than disappointing other people!

4. Reward yourself.

Reward is just as important as doing all the hard work. If you’re doing an amazing job at something, reward yourself! When you hit a milestone, get a mani/pedi or take yourself on a mini shopping spree. Just make sure your reward isn’t undoing all the work you put in. For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, don’t make your reward a cheat day!

5. Be positive.

Being positive is one of the most powerful tools in your toolbox. While it’s impossible to expect that you’re never going to be negative, don’t underestimate the power of some positive thinking. Negativity is like a slippery slope. Surrounding yourself by it can work against all the work you’re doing to stay motivated. If you find yourself falling behind, do everything you can to get out of that rut. Positive thinking goes a long way. Listen to a podcast. Confide in a friend.

Do you have any tips on ways to get motivated? What are the things that help you the most? Leave them below so we can all help each other!