Self Motivation

Every so often motivation wanes.  It happens for many reasons.  I might be bored with what I’m doing, I’ve mastered something and the excitement has worn off, perhaps I don’t have anything urgent going on and can’t seem to get started.  The following tips help me start moving forward again.

Tip 1:  List.  I put together a “to-do” list in order of priority.  There always seems to be things that need to get done.  I don’t think about what I have to do, I just start with the first item on the list and complete it, then go onto the next item.  It doesn’t always ignite my motivation, but it does give me a sense of accomplishment.

Tip 2:  Change locations.  When I get stuck and start day dreaming I sit someplace other than my office.  Working out of my house, I’m able to sit in the living room, dining area or outside.  At times I’ll take my computer to a local coffee shop.  I see things from a different perspective when I change locations.

Tip 3:  Stop.  Let’s face it, some days it’s just not happening – and no matter what – it won’t happen.  Those are the days I stop trying so hard to get motivated to complete projects.  I work on administrative tasks instead – I clean up my office, files, pay bills, purge email, whatever I’ve put off, that could be done but doesn’t have to be done.

Tip 4:  Talk to a colleague.  I call or visit someone who I enjoy and ask them questions about what they are doing, what is coming up in their life.  Self motivation can be as easy as latching onto someone else’s excitement about their work.

Tip 5:  Pick up a book.  I’ve acquired many business books along the way.  There are so many great ones out there.  Just paging through them can spark my motivation to move forward.  Here are a few of my favorites:  Managing the Unmanageable by Anne Loehr & Jezra Kaye, Play Like a Man Win Like a Woman by Gail Evans, Motherhood Is the New MBA by Shari Storm, Dealing with People You Can’t Stand by Dr. Rick Brinkman & Dr. Rick Kirschner, GenderSmart by Jane Sanders.

Tip 6:  Group.  Create a group that meets regularly.  Ideally this would be made up of individuals who are in different businesses, are motivated, successful, solution oriented, you get the picture.  Keep the group at three to six people – so everyone has a chance to talk.  During your regular meetings (once a week, every two weeks, once a month) each group member talks about their successes at work, what’s ahead and what they might want the group to help them with.  It’s a wonderful way to get motivated and gain ideas from those you might not regularly interact with.  Remember the purpose is to motivate and share ideas with each other, not to complain about what is going on.

What do you do to get motivated?  Do you have any books that you’d recommend?  Leave a comment below so we can learn from you.

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