stay motivated

Do you get caught up in the daily routine, finding it difficult to stay motivated? I mean, “how can I stay motivated with pages of to-do lists?”

This is one of the most common challenges my clients express, so this month I’m sharing my Top 50 ways to Stay Motivated. It’s not magic. It’s not something you “have or you don’t.” It’s something you can create to get and keep yourself on track!

1. 1. Hang with positive people
   2. Limit your time with negative people
   3. Better yet, shift conversations to the positive with those people
   4. Have motivating conversations
   5. Stop focusing on what’s not working
   6. Concentrate on your abilities, on what you can do
   7. Congratulate yourself for even the smallest achievements
   8. Talk about why you want to achieve your goals and keep your intention front and center
   9. Seek out the company of people you admire
   10. Watch a competition (one requiring dedication and focus, not a hot dog eating contest!)
   11. Write out your “why” and put it on your screensaver
   12. Break big goals into small, do-able actions
   13. Read a biography of someone inspiring
   14. Make a pact with a friend to have positive, problem-solving conversations
   15. Limit time spent wallowing (literally, set a timer)
   16. When discouraged, feel it then change your mental channel
   17. Remind yourself of prior successes and learn from them
   18. Celebrate your skills and talents
   19. Connect your skills and talents with working on your goals
   20. Take micro breaks in order to recharge and come back refreshed to the task
   21. Focus on what you can control. because that’s where your power is
   22. Let go of what you can’t, because it’s unhelpful
   23. Set out a reward for yourself (I did that last month and achieved my goals with 2 weeks to spare!)
   24. Schedule enjoyment for after a not-so-fun task (but one that gets you to your goal)
   25. Challenge the “have tos” and “shoulds”

       

   26. Reflect your personal empowerment by saying “I choose”
   27. Ask for help – if someone’s working with you it keeps you going, too
   28. When faced with temptation ask, “What do I want more than this?” (Thanks to Rob Bell for that question!)
   29. Make sure your goals are your goals, not your partner’s, parent’s or doctor’s
   30. Have a mantra or phrase for when things get tough and repeat it often
   31. Create a vision of what success looks like and read it daily
   32. Remind yourself of a time you’ve overcome obstacles in the past
   33. Ask your partner or a friend for specific support when you’re feeling down
   34. Don’t wait to “feel” motivation – create it yourself
   35. Identify multiple ways to experience success
   36. Mentor someone else – it keeps you accountable
   37. Schedule play time, then working on your goals becomes less of a chore
   38. Treat yourself well, like you deserve it (because, of course, you do)
   39. Meditate to start the day feeling centered
   40. Create a pleasing environment (home, work and car)
   41. Buy clothes you feel good in
   42. Volunteer and see how it makes you appreciate your life even more
   43. Look for opportunities to be grateful
   44. Read a daily inspirational quote (I use the Full Focus Planner)
   45. Ask others how they stay motivated and learn from them
   46. Identify multiple ways to achieve your goals so that you have options
   47. Be okay with less than perfect, because that’s the only real option
   48. Expect failure – because it happens – that way you’re not surprised and it doesn’t derail you
   49. When you fail, identify what it makes possible
   50. Be compassionate when you fail because self-flagellation is so unproductive!

As you employ these strategies you’ll notice crossover, that one breeds another and the next one.  Your behaviors become easier the more your practice, which is to say they become habits. The more you create habits that support you, the less effort required to actually achieve your goals.

Who doesn’t want that?!