The human brain is very easily influenced and therefore it is very easy for us to get distracted. Despite how focused and motivated you may be, it is natural for you to hit a slump. This is why it is really hard to get motivated, even when you really want to do something. You will have “off days” and while that is normal, it is important to understand how you can increase your lack of motivation
Especially, amid the COVID-19 crisis, many of us don’t have work and have to spend more time at home in quarantine. Now, we may not know what to do with all of this extra time, but it is important to be productive in any way you can! A constant lack of motivation will only lead you into an abyss of boredom and apathy.
Therefore, in this article, we will discuss 3 easy steps to help you get off your butt and get motivated!
How To Get Motivated: 3 Easy Ways
1. Adjust Your Focus
Look at the big picture and clear your mind. You need to figure out your direction and adjust your focus to help you achieve your end goal.
In many ways, children can teach us a lesson on being able to focus. For example, think of a child who really wants a specific toy or to stay up late. That child most likely kept their focus until they achieved their end goal. And if they didn’t achieve your goal, that did not cause the child to give up. They would try again later.
As we grow we don’t allow ourselves to think outside the box, or to stay concentrated on one thing for too long. We stop seeing the world as full of opportunities, instead we see it as constrictive. We forget our end goals and start thinking more negatively.
As Zig Ziglar said,
I don’t care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don’t harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there you’re never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants.
Therefore, start focusing on what you do want. Be like that child mentioned above! It is easy to find negatives in every situation. So try finding positives instead. Create goals and maintain your focus on them. If you already have a goal, adjust your focus.
One way you can adjust your focus is by writing down the answers to these 4 key questions.
- What you are doing?
- Why are you are doing it?
- How do you plan on doing it?
- When do you want to finish it?
This quick brainstorm will help you get thoughts out, clear your mind and adjust your focus. It will also help you get motivated by providing you with a thorough and necessary structure. You can now begin building on this foundation and work on motivating yourself.
2. Reflect On Yourself
This is the beginning of the actual motivation process. In terms of your goal(s), close your eyes and reflect on your past. Think of all the past situations, past successes, and past failures that you can learn from. Understand how you could use your past experiences to help you conquer your new goal(s).
Think about all the times when you faced a similar task. Think about your purpose behind that task. Understand how you completed the task as well as how long it took you to complete the task. And most importantly, understand how that task affected you.
To further help you understand the importance of self-reflection, I have attached a TED talk discussing “The Value of Self-Reflection” by James Schmidt below!
This reflection will provide you with something to compare your present task with. It will help you understand what you did well and what you did poorly. Ultimately, helping you understand how you can improve on your present goal. This reflection process will also help you realize that you are capable and will help you get motivated and believe that you can do it!
As C. Joybell C. said,
It is when you lose sight of yourself, that you lose your way. To keep your truth in sight you must keep yourself in sight and the world to you should be a mirror to reflect to you your image; the world should be a mirror that you reflect upon.
3. Remind Yourself Why
Whenever you feel yourself losing motivation and lacking concentration on a goal, remind yourself why you started working on your goal in the first place. Find that initial fire and keep it in your head as long as possible. Think about the positivity and happiness you will feel once you complete your goal!
You started this for a reason. Find that initial drive once again. In order to stay motivated and follow through on your goals, it is up to you to use the reason as motivation. If you ever find yourself lacking motivation, give yourself constant reminders and notices. Tell yourself, if not now, when?
Remember, Steve Jobs said,
Almost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
That constant reminder combined with your focus and structure will help you get motivated once again.
Final Words
With excess time on our hands amid these Coronavirus days, it may be difficult to stay motivated. This lack of motivation can be detrimental to our mental and physical health. Therefore, it is important for us to stay active and motivated. I sincerely hope the three key tips mentioned in this article help you get motivated and complete your goals!
In the end, if you ever find yourself lacking motivation, always remember to adjust your focus, reflect on yourself, and remind yourself why!
