For some, motivation comes and goes and it is hard to maintain focus and consistency. The objective is to harness that internal fire, replenish it as necessary, and let it flow in every aspect of your life. Here are some quick tips on how to stay motivated.
7 Tips to Staying Motivated
1.) Set your goals and stick to them. The purpose of goal setting is to have a concrete plan to follow and help guide you down the road when it gets rough. Having goals means there is a definitive destination to strive towards.
2.) Establish markers of progress. Aside from setting goals, there needs to be markers of accomplishment. Having goals without checkpoints can be a defeating effort. Set weekly or monthly markers of accomplishments to achieve and start knocking them off chunk by chunk. You will begin to see your dream start to materialize.
3.) Learn from the greats. There are many lessons that can either be learned the hard way or the easy way, so take advantage of potential opportunities. Read all you can to advance your knowledge in the field you are pursuing. If possible, find a mentor to train you on the intricacies and details of mastering your craft. There is a reason some have been able to obtain greatness and it didn’t happen by accident or without help.
4.) Partner with those that share your drive because not everyone will share your vision. Your dream is your dream and no one will have the same vision as you do. However, you can find people that have the same work ethic and drive for greatness. Those are the people you need in your corner. Although they may not have the same big picture idea, they do believe in and support you. On those days when everything seems to fall apart, it will be that belief and support that will push you through.
5.) Reward yourself for milestones. With each marker accomplished, take a moment to cherish the moment and find a way to reward yourself for staying the course. Each step closer to your goal is a significant occasion that should be recognized and celebrated. It may be as simple as taking a couple of hours to treat yourself to a movie or purchasing a small trinket to symbolize the accomplishment, but whatever it may be, award yourself for a job well done. At a minimal, it will be an encouragement to continue on.
6.) Allow yourself some slack. Not everything will go as planned and there will be days when you will be totally frustrated and ready to throw in the towel. That is perfectly normal. It will happen, so allow for it. What that means is that you are passionate about your pursuit and it is important to you. As long as you remember the reason you began and follow the goals you have set, the frustrating days will be few and far in between. Don’t beat yourself up for setbacks and don’t give up either. Greatness comes with a price and the journey is filled with many challenges.
7.) You have to rest. All the excitement and ambition will throw your body and mind in overdrive and you will want to tackle everything all at once. It is an invigorating feeling to have a vision and watch it manifest daily. Take the time you need to rest and recuperate in between. Everyone needs a period of time to get away from the daily grind to replenish. Be intentional about scheduling time to allow your mind and body to rest. You will be amazed about how when you return, you have fresh ideas, a rejuvenated body, and crisp mind. Rest is imperative to success.
Motivation comes from many sources and how you harness that motivation will determine the outcome of your journey. Use these steps to help you along the way and take you to the next step. Equipping yourself with the right tools will assuredly help you reach your destination.
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing that’s why we recommend it daily.”
~ Zig Ziglar