Motivation is described as the desire to do things. Motivating yourself can be difficult at times, especially when the task you face is one that you dread. People often have trouble finding the motivation to start a work project or finish school work.
Exercise is something else that many people have a hard time finding motivation for. On the other hand, finding the motivation to do enjoyable things is easier for most people. So how does one go about getting motivated to get things done without having to overhaul their entire lives?
Peaceful motivation is something that you need in your life. Here are some easy ways to give it a try. Whether you use just one or you mix and match them all, you’ll love how much more motivated you feel.
A Vision Board Is Powerful
According to experts, a vision board helps keep the end result where you can see it all the time. This is a powerful way to get motivated because you are constantly being exposed to what you want. When that’s at the forefront of your mind, it’s much easier to rouse the motivation to do what it takes to reach your goals.
A vision board is simply a large piece of poster board covered with images of things that represent your goal and things that motivate you. Use pictures from magazines or those that you print off the computer.
You might also create a digital vision board and use it as the wallpaper on your smartphone. Either way, you’ll be surprised at how motivating it is to gather your vision in one place where you can see it whenever you want or need to.
Download An App To Your Smartphone
Since most people carry their smartphones everywhere they go, it makes sense to use it for as many purposes as possible. There are many, many apps out there that can help you stick to your goals and do the things that can help you reach them.
These include apps that help remind you to exercise, eat healthily, and drink more water, as well as many that can remind you to stay mindful, take more pictures, and much more. Do a search in your app store, and see if you can find an app that can help you get to your goals without a ton of extra time or effort.
Use Sticky Notes
Here is an old school way of motivating yourself peacefully. Write motivating comments or personal growth quotes on sticky notes and stick them where you’ll see them. For example, place encouraging notes on your computer at work, helping you power through until quitting time.
You might also use sticky notes on the fridge or cupboard to help you resist unhealthy snacking between meals. This is also a great way to offer motivation to your spouse, kids, or co-workers. It won’t take too much time, it hardly costs anything, and it is a really powerful way to get yourself and others up and going.
Put Your Equipment Front And Center
If you find yourself putting off strength training or cardio, putting your equipment where it’s visible at all times can really help motivate you. Instead of falling prey to “out of sight, out of mind” syndrome, you’ll be reminded to exercise when you see your gear. Maybe that means laying out your clothing and shoes so that when you get up in the morning, they are right there reminding you to go for a run.
Perhaps you could keep your free weights near the television so you remember to lift them while you watch your favorite programs at night. If you’re trying to eat healthier, leave your juicer out where you can get to it easily.
Keep a bowl of fruit handy so you can reach for a nutritious snack. At work, keep all the supplies that make your job easier on your desk so that you are motivated to jump on a task and get it done.
Find Support For Yourself
When you’re trying to reach a goal, simply telling someone else about it can be motivating. Choose a person that will back you up and is invested in your success, if only because they love you. This person might be a parent, your spouse, or a friend.
Ask that person to check in with you often and ask specific questions about what you’re doing to reach your goals. This person can also remind you to stay on track and nudge you when you feel yourself lacking in motivation.
A support group made up of people who are trying to reach the same goals is also a beneficial thing to have around you. This may help you if you’re trying to lose weight or cut calories from your meal plan. However you do it, support is one of the biggest indicators of success, according to research.
Watch Movies Or Read Books
There are lots of motivating movies and books out there, most of which can be checked out for free at your local library. Watching or reading the story unfold in front of you can help motivate you to do the things you want to do.
If you need motivation in smaller doses, write down quotes from the movie or book and keep it on a notecard in your bag or pocket so that you can pull it out and refer to it as necessary. You might also use an encouraging quote as your smartphone wallpaper or ringtone.
Motivation can come from many sources, and books and movies are certainly a great way to keep yourself on the path you want to take.
Other Options That May Prove To Work
Some people find that a motivating tattoo really helps them stay on track. If that’s something that intrigues you, do some research to find something that motivates you and that you can live with for the rest of your life.
You’ll find that simply glancing at your tattoo when you feel your motivation lagging can help give you that little jump start you need to reach the life goals you’ve set for yourself.
The great thing about motivation is that once you get a little bit, the power and success you feel will give you even more motivation. Motivation builds on motivation, so keep at it and the little bit you feel at the beginning will grow and grow until you are so motivated that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
If nothing seems to work and you can’t muster the motivation for anything, talk to your doctor to rule out depression or another mood disorder, which can make it very difficult to be motivated to do any of the things you want to do. If this is the case for you, treating the underlying problem with medication or therapy should have you feeling motivated again in a short amount of time.