How to stay Motivated
If you are anything like me, the start of a new year is flooded with new ideas, goals and aspirations. I am filled with the excitement of new prospects. I intend to stay motivated and achieve all my goals. As the weeks go by, I slowly realize that I start losing motivation. The once energetic enthused optimist is slowly becoming a lethargic uninspired realist. I begin to question myself, “do you have the time?”, “are you sure you can do this?”, “how can you fit one more thing into your schedule?”
If you can relate to any of this and want to learn how to break this pattern keep reading.
It is human nature to gravitate towards what is easy, and staying motivated is not always an easy task to accomplish. Motivation takes practice. The following steps will give you the push you need to maintain your motivation.
Make a list of your goals or tasks
Making a list of my goals or tasks is one of my favorite tools. I am a visual person and a list allows me to SEE what I need to do. (I must admit I get a weird satisfaction when I complete something on my list and can check it off!)
2.Be SMART with your goals: S-specific, M- measurable, A- action oriented, R- realistic, T- time-oriented.
One of the best ways to follow through with a goal is to be specific. State exactly what you want to accomplish, the actions you will take to accomplish your goal, and your projected time frame. It is also important to be realistic about your goal. And by being realistic I do not mean to minimize your goal, but be realistic in what you need to do to achieve it and how long it will take.
3. Stay positive
Maintaining a positive outlook is extremely beneficial when trying to sustain motivation. A positive outlook can boost your spirits and give you that extra push you need when you are feeling less motivated.
4.Stick to a routine
It is important to develop a routine that will keep you pushing towards your goal. Something as simple as waking up 10 minutes early to allow for morning prayer or meditation can do wonders for maintaining motivation. However you choose to schedule your day, be sure to allow time for rest and relaxation. You will be more successful at staying motivated if you are happy and relaxed.
5.Be Flexible!
As we all know, most things we plan for do not go as planned. Stay flexible and accept the fact that you may have to adjust some things in order to achieve your goal. Life will always throw us curve balls but it is how you respond to those curve balls that will determine your outcome.
