Top Secrets of Self-Motivation

 

We all struggle with a lack of self-motivation at times. We can learn a hundred ways to improve our lives but fail to act on them. Something less important grabs our attention, or we simply don't feel like doing what needs to be done. Even someone who is normally highly motivated can struggle to get started on a significant task.

Is there a way out? There must be dozens of them. The following are six of the most effective self-motivation techniques. Try them all, but if just one or two of them work, you'll be well on your way.

Effective Self-Motivation Techniques

1.      01. Talk to motivate yourself. Talking is one of my favorite ways to generate energy and motivation. I'm out of my funk and back at the keyboard as soon as I tell my wife about the article I'm going to write. Discuss the larger goals it will help you achieve if the task is less inspiring.

2.      02.  Arouse your desire. Many people are drawn to get-rich-quick schemes because they see a bright future for themselves. Really good salespeople can put you in your imagined dream home in minutes and motivate you to do anything to make it a reality. Learn how to be your own salesman.

3.     03. Activate your pain. One Neuro-Linguistic Programming technique is to mentally associate pain with the inability to act. It's like when you finally stop hitting the snooze button on your alarm clock and get up because you're afraid you'll lose your job. Consider the negative consequences of failing to do what is required.

4.     04. Find a genuine interest. If you are uninterested in what you are doing, it may be time to change careers. If it's just a task you despise but must complete, connect it to the larger goal in your mind. I dislike driving, but when I'm driving to the mountains for a vacation, I don't struggle with motivation.

5.      05. Increase your energy. You need energy to motivate yourself. If caffeine does not cause other problems for you, coffee may help for a while. Exercising and getting enough sleep also help. You should also avoid sugary foods. The "sugar blues" destroy motivation. Make a list of energy boosters that work for you and keep it handy for future use.

6.       06. Take a baby step. I've discovered that if I commit to raking one bag of leaves, I soon want to complete all of the yard work. Taking even the smallest step toward your goals is an excellent self-motivation technique. Divide larger goals into smaller steps to make things even easier.

Motivational techniques are effective. In any case, you were sufficiently motivated to read this far, so you'll be fine.  There is a seventh thing to say. A good laugh can help you overcome the feeling of overwhelm that saps your motivation.