We’ve all been there. It’s Monday morning. You’re wondering where the heck the weekend went, and you’re not feeling any of the rise and shine vibes (sorry Kylie). The thought of even rolling out of bed at this point is akin to climbing Everest. We get it. We’ve all been there, too! So how do you shift your attitude from wanting to lounge in your PJ’s all day binge watching Netflix, to crushing your goals? Well, we’ve got a blog for that. If you’re wondering how you can stay focused on your goals even on the toughest of days, check out our latest – How to Motivate Yourself: 7 Ways!
Write your goals down to make them real
If you want to make your goals more than mere thoughts in your head, this is where you need to start.
Write down exactly what you want to accomplish. However, don’t stop there. For this to be effective, you need to attach a deadline to each of your goals. This can be as specific as an exact date (if your goal warrants it). Or, simply a ballpark timeframe (i.e.: I want to get that promotion at work by July 2021).
The benefits of attaching a deadline to a goal speak for themselves. Firstly, they create more accountability for the goal setter. On top of that, they actually make what you want to accomplish seem more tangible and possible to complete. We’ll explain how.
First off, you’ll want to break your “big picture goal” into a few smaller ones. Write down what you need to complete step by step, in order for that big final goal to materialize. This makes getting to your final destination way more achievable. It also allows you to focus on one thing at a time. You know, instead of getting overwhelmed, throwing your hands up, and settling for what you definitely don’t deserve babe.
Just the act of ticking off that “complete” checkmark beside your little goals will feel good. Most importantly, it will motivate you to continue. What’s more, whenever you’re feeling down and unmotivated, you can have a look at your goal sheet to feel inspired again. And trust us, before you know it you’ll be well on your way to crushing that big picture goal.
Surround yourself with like-minded, motivated people
This next one on our list of 7 ways to motivate yourself is so crucial. In fact, it has a bigger effect on achieving your goals than most people think.
We can’t stress this enough: surround yourself with positive, like-minded people who want to see you succeed! We’ve all had (or have) a friend that maybe didn’t (or doesn’t) have the best energy. The truth is, that the effects of being around this kind of person are usually not conducive to helping you achieve all that you want to.
If you can have a positive influence on this person, and help shift their attitude – great! But if that just doesn’t seem like a possibility, you need to know when it is best to distance yourself in order to keep your motivation train going.
It’s simple. If you notice your energy lacking when you’re around someone, or you feel like what you want to achieve is impossible when you speak to them about it – it’s best to keep it moving.
Be picky about the content you consume on social media
You shouldn’t only monitor the kind of people you surround yourself with when you’re trying to stay motivated. The content you consume on social media on a daily basis can also be a huge factor in getting your motivation mojo going.
Does scrolling through your feed have you feeling uninspired? If so, it’s time to re-evaluate who you’re following. Whether you’re looking for a healthy dose of wellness motivation, or a boss babe to get you motivated to get to work – they’re out there!
Canvas, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or basically anywhere you usually get your social media fix. Search for people who are trying to accomplish, or have already accomplished, similar goals to yours! Watching someone else achieve what you’ve set out to do can be super motivating. It can also provide you with killer tips on how to get there!
We know so many of us reach for our phones first thing in the morning. Therefore, starting your day off with some positive and encouraging reinforcement is key to having this motivation thing on lock.
Read, then read some more
Before social media, there were books. And hey, there still are books!
Whatever your goal is, there is a book out there for it. Whether it is to provide you with essential information on what you want to achieve or better yet, to guide you on how to get there – reading is one of the best ways to stay motivated, and to keep learning and growing overall.
So when you feel like packing up, shutting off your laptop, and turning in for an early end of day cocktail – don’t! Take a step back. Read a chapter or two, and you’ll often find that little bit of motivation you needed to finish that impossible assignment your boss threw your way at the last minute.
Out of our 7 ways to motivate yourself, this tip can definitely benefit several areas of your life. Make reading a few chapters of your motivating book of choice a daily priority, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly your mindset shifts. In turn, you’ll also be surprised at how much easier it is to actually stay motivated.
Stay motivated by creating your zone, and staying in it
Listen, your environment is everything. You need a zone, and if you don’t have one – don’t sweat it. We’re here to show you what it is, and how to easily create it.
First, let’s break this down simply. If your goal is to be healthier, having a fridge full of junk will certainly not help you get there. If you want to finish writing that perfect pitch proposal to your boss, having a cluttered or uninspiring office space is also a sure way to kill that motivation bug of yours.
Create a zone for accomplishing your goals, and you’ll be motivated to work in it. It could be as modest as creating a small, dedicated workspace in your home in the case of the example above. Maybe adding music, or your favorite tea to your work session is what you need to create a “let’s do this” vibe, that will totally get your motivation flowing.
Whatever your zone is, hone in on it and use it to your advantage when you’re in need of motivation. Sometimes, just getting into the groove of what you need to do is all that’s really required to get you off the couch, and ready to kill it at your next meeting.
Be your own self-motivator and visualize your future self
Out of our 7 ways on how to motivate yourself, this one is pretty important if we do say so ourselves.
So what do we mean by being your “own self-motivator”? Well, we think all of this goal crushing starts and ends with you, gorgeous! And while good people around you can certainly play an important role in helping you get to where you want to be, at the end of the day you are the deciding factor in actually getting there.
Learn what makes you tick, and practice being your own motivator with some healthy inner dialogue. It can be as easy as taking a breath and giving yourself a little “you got this”. Or, as deep as a meditation session to really set your intentions and get your motivation feels fired up.
Another tip we want to share in our 7 ways of how to motivate yourself, is one that greatly compliments being your own self-motivator. This is the practice of learning how to visualize yourself accomplishing your goals. This might sound a little wacky, but there are tons of benefits to doing this! Once you’ve clearly defined what it is you want to accomplish, picture yourself actually being there. Picture how it looks, how it feels, and let your imagination run wild.
Stay motivated by rewarding yourself… the right way
Ok, hang on a second. What kind of "How to Motivate Yourself: 7 Ways" blog would this be if we gave you counterproductive advice? Let's clarify. We don’t mean rewarding yourself with a pint of gelato after you’ve hit your first weight loss goal.
Rewards can be healthy, and can help motivate you to stay on track to accomplishing whatever it is you want. So instead of hitting up the ice cream parlor, reward yourself with things that also keep you motivated towards that big picture end goal.
For example, let’s say you’re leaning towards ditching that morning workout. Make plans with your most inspiring friend or family member for after that run. Grabbing a coffee with this person is the reward at the end of that jog. Having something to look forward to can totally motivate you to just get the work done.
Maybe you’ve been eyeing a beautiful new bookshelf or accessory for your office. Once you’ve perfected that pitch we keep talking about, reward yourself with it. Not only will it make you feel good, but it also contributes to motivating you to continue on this rock star path you’re already on.
When all else fails, know this
If there are days when the tips above simply aren’t cutting it – we need you to know this, babe. Motivation is great. It makes you feel empowered, unstoppable even. But the truth is, that like so many other things in our lives, motivation comes and goes! What keeps you going, is discipline. Getting into healthy habits that are conducive to reaching your goals, and making them a daily part of your life is a sure way to ensure you’ll accomplish anything you set your mind to.
And if you’re having a lazy, uninspired day here and there – that’s okay too (not to mention, way normal)! Be gentle, and kind to yourself. Know when it’s time to take a break, and have that Netflix binge. This can also be what’s needed sometimes to just recharge your batteries, and get set to conquer the world tomorrow.
We hope you got some inspiration out of our "How to Motivate Yourself: 7 Ways" blog. What are some tips you use to stay motivated when all you want to do is hide under that duvet cover? How do you make crushing your goals a priority without getting discouraged?
We know you can accomplish anything you want to, I mean – you are a BBE babe after all ;) <3
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