Wondering how to get motivated and don’t know where to start? Try these 6 tips you can use for life, study and work.
Motivation comes and goes and when we have none, it can feel like we don’t have the energy to do anything.
Being stuck without motivation when you really need it can make things difficult, especially if you’re working towards a deadline. Here’s 6 habits you can try to find motivation more easily.
1. Remember what your goal is
Why should you be motivated? What are you working towards?
Maybe you’re studying for a final exam, or maybe you’re starting a project for work? Whatever it is you need to do, remember why it’s important to you, and how you’ll feel once you’ve completed it (or at least made some progress).
2. Trick your brain
Something that many people find helpful is tricking their brain into thinking they’ve already started tackling their to do list.
Write out your to-do list as usual. Try adding a couple of things that you’ve already done or that are small and easy tasks, for example ‘get a glass of water’ or ‘create a brief plan’, then tick them off.
It allows you to feel like you’ve already accomplished something and that you can move onto the next task, instead of wondering where you’re going to start. It can make you feel like the cogs in your brain are already in motion – give it a try!
3. Reward yourself
Give yourself a pat on the back and a reward for the big wins and the small ones. You could take a well deserved break, reward yourself with a sweet treat, or 5 minutes of gaming… or all of the above!
Looking forward to your reward, whatever you choose it to be, is a great motivator. It makes you to take a second to stop and admire your progress so that you don’t fry your brain with too much hard work.
Note: remember that if your reward is an activity, it’s best to give yourself an allotted time e.g. 5 minutes. Without a time limit, it can get distracting and suck you back into no productivity.
4. Remove distractions
Is procrastination the same thing as having no motivation? It’s a little different – while having no motivation is like thinking ‘I can’t be bothered’ or ‘I don’t have the energy to start’, procrastination is avoiding your tasks on purpose by doing absolutely anything else.
If you know you’re a procrastinator, try removing distractions such as your phone, games, books etc, or move to a different room that is calmer and doesn’t have things like a TV or your comfy bed.
5. Keep the momentum going
Ever heard of the saying ‘slow and steady wins the race’ from the story of the tortoise and the hare? Here’s where it’s important to learn from the moral of the story.
Instead of rushing like the hare and forcing yourself to work when you have no motivation, try taking it slow and steady like the tortoise with small and consistent efforts.
A way to do this is breaking your tasks down into smaller, more manageable chunks that feel easier to do.
You can also try using the time blocking or pomodoro techniques to manage your time effectively and work with how long you can stay focused for.
6. Check in with yourself
What’s really stopping you? No motivation is something that we all have to deal with from time to time, but we all get it (and cope with it) in different ways.
You may want to race through your tasks once you’ve finally found motivation, but balancing work and rest is key.
Sometimes you just need to listen to your body and your brain. A lot of the time, motivation can be linked to your energy levels. Take the time to notice when you need a break, whether it’s an hour or a couple of days. Take breaks, drink plenty of water, and eat nutritious snacks to rest and feed your brain.
However, if you think your lack of motivation might be linked to your health, including your mental health, don’t be afraid to get in touch with support services and medical professionals like your GP who are there to help you. If you feel comfortable, talking things through with someone you trust can help too.
