5 Tips to Stay Motivated

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going” – Jim Rohn

Let’s say you believe that the positive mindset approach to life is definitely the way to go. You’re meeting and greeting the world with a positive attitude and life is starting to show the positive signs already.  People around you are actually being influenced by your new attitude and are responding in kind. Being positive really works!

Then something happens (COVID-19).  Your life gets turned around in the blink of an eye and you’re right back where you started! What happened to your determination, positive outlook and meaningful interactions?  How could the motivation and attitudes you crafted over time dissolve so quickly? What can be done on a regular basis to keep you motivated? 

You need to have a personal motivation plan in place.  And motivation is, as the word itself suggests, a motive for action.  

Here are a few suggestions to help you get started.

1 Apply Motivation Every Day.

Is it possible to be positive and optimistic all the time?  The answer is “No”! It is true that motivation doesn't last but if you work at it, keeping yourself on track, you will have many more up days than down.  If we want to stay motivated continuously, we will have to apply motivational “food” to ourselves every day. As we need daily food for physical energy, we need daily motivational “food” for mental energy. I suggest every day writing down your long, medium and short term goals, plus three things you are grateful for.

2 Build A Motivational Base

Read or listen to motivational material daily.  It does not have to be your typical self-help but it should be something you find inspirational.  A well-written book that offers sound advice is more motivating than reading or watching repeating news headlines or market declines.  Alternatively, forget reading if you have no time. Use audio. Audio is really great to listen to because you can also be doing something else while you are listening to it. 

3. Have A Healthy Lifestyle

Exercise regularly.  It helps your body to work more effectively and efficiently.  You will enjoy life more. When the body moves, the mind moves even more.  An active body promotes an even more active mind. The mind gets organised whether you want to or not.  We may be thinking about work while we exercise but we develop more creative solutions. So, set aside a little time every week for exercise.  You’ll be more productive when you return to work.

4. Do Enjoyable Activities

Find some activities that give you real pleasure, things that excite you and allow your talents to shine.  This makes you feel good about yourself and promotes positive emotions. When you enjoy what you do, you tend to excel and succeed easily.  And with each success, your self-esteem grows and motivates you to greater heights. You will enjoy even more of that particular activity. Suddenly, you feel that success comes naturally.

5. Remind Yourself Of Your Goals

See point one, make sure your goals are written on paper. The more often you write them the more ingrained it will become.  Take the necessary steps to achieve your goals. Remind yourself constantly of these goals. Develop a strong desire to attain those goals.  Our subconscious mind will steer our daily activities and action towards attaining these goals. If you know what you want and want it strongly enough, then you will surely get it.  Strangely what we do today has everything to do with where we'll be in 6 months.

In order to get ahead, you must always be motivated. All the motivation in this world will not do anything for you unless you ACT NOW. Apply these steps and believe that these are practical and effective guidelines. The results will surprise you. 

Along the way, count your blessings at every opportunity and be Grateful.