5 Ways to Get, and Stay, Motivated!

I originally started this as a post mainly aimed at other bloggers, since this is an area many of us struggle with. I blog for fun, but sometimes I can't think of anything to write, don't think anyone ever reads it and it all becomes a bit of a chore. I don't want to stop doing it, but I do want it to be something I enjoy doing, so I have to make sure I keep myself motivated and positive. It turns out, anyone can suffer from demotivation in any job. Even if you don't have a job, actually. That can be the most demotivating situation of all. So, hopefully, these ideas might provide a bit of inspiration to help you find your inner dynamo!

Disorganisation

If you worry about missing appointments or deadlines, it can really affect your self confidence when it comes to doing your job and there's nothing more demotivating than that. If this is you, it's time to get used to using a calendar or diary. This isn't as easy as it sounds, because it's one thing to remember to write down your reminders, but it's another thing entirely to remember to check them regularly. Thankfully though, the digital age has meant we can be far less self-reliant. Get to know your smart phone or tablet and you will probably find a reminder function built in to the calendar. It is well worth learning how to use it. It doesn't take long and you will soon wonder how you ever managed without it. 

Forgetfulness

You can have as many great ideas and brilliant plans as you can think of, but it's pointless if you are going to forget all about them before they even make it out of your brain. If you are prone to forgetfulness, there's a good chance your sieve-like memory is doing you a massive disservice. There are probably a lot of great ideas that would have made you feel far more inclined to tackle whatever it is that you need to do, that are now lost to the dark recesses of your brain. But you can fight back. One motivational tool is to keep a notepad and pen handy at all times, particularly at night. So many times I have just been going to sleep and I've convinced myself that there is no way I could forget the brilliant idea I just had. But I do. Every time! Jotting down a few words will help you remember your brilliance and also focus your mind when the time comes to complete the task. 

Distraction

This is a big problem for a lot of people, particularly now that we have easily accessible internet everywhere, with Facebook and Youtube waiting to suck hours from our lives at a moment's notice. This level of temptation will always require an element of self-control, but using your boredom-control reward system, as mentioned earlier, may help keep your non-work related browsing in check. Increasing your concentration in general will help to ward off the lure of the internet and, who knows, if you get finished quicker, that could give you even more cat video time. Keeping hydrated is really important for concentration, as our bodies are two thirds water. Our brain is particularly susceptible to dehydration, as brain cells rely on a delicate balance of water and other elements in order to function properly. Chewing gum has also been shown to improve concentration and it all helps keep your schedule on track. 

Tiredness

Tiredness can happen for many different reasons. Sometimes it's linked to boredom. If the task you are doing is repetitive or uninspiring, you can become mentally exhausted with it. To boost your productivity, try breaking the task down into smaller sections and giving yourself a little reward for each completed part, such as; a tea break, a few funny cat videos, whatever lifts your spirits. Even grown ups need incentives (bribery!) sometimes! You may actually be tired, though, in which case, there are a few things you can do to put it right. Obviously, try to have a good, regular sleep routine and curb the late-night Netflix, but keeping your energy levels stable throughout the day plays a big part too. Stopping for regular healthy snack breaks, fruit, nuts, seeds, etc, will not only keep your energy from flagging, it will give your morale a little boost, too! If you still find yourself dropping off, try to get outside for a few minutes. Either have your tea break outside, or even squeeze in a quick walk round the block, if you can. You won't regret it, the sunshine and fresh air will lift your spirits and will you probably find you get more done as a result.

Confidence

Often, lack of motivation can be linked to low self esteem. If you don't feel good about yourself, and your ability to do the job you should be doing, it's not surprising you're struggling to motivate yourself to do it. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we are actually good at what we do. If you're having a bit of a wobble, spend a little time rereading something you've done that you're proud of, or feedback from clients, or anything that makes you remember doing your job well. Particularly if you are self employed, it can be much harder to maintain a good level of work confidence because you don't get the reinforcement that employed people get from their colleagues and managers. So, it's important to build some positive reinforcement into your own work life. Conversely, some people who are employed in a workplace struggle with their confidence because they don't know how to say no. It's a vicious circle; you want to prove yourself, so you agree to more than you can handle, too much work means you start doing it badly, so you feel yourself failing, so you take on more work to prove yourself... Learn to say no. Whether you are working for yourself, or an employer, know your limitations so that you can complete each task to the best of your ability. The benefits of these are better quality output and a happier you because you won't feel taken advantage of. Try it, you might surprise yourself!