You’ve followed all the tips and tricks to combat productivity. But, you’re still procrastinating on those goals you’ve set. And those to-do-lists still haven’t been completed. So, what’s the deal? It may be because you just haven’t used the right motivation tips. So, why not give these ten motivation tips a shot? I guarantee that they’ll help you succeed at anything. Here are 10 motivational tips to succeed at anything that I’ve used myself.
1. Set a goal and visualize it down to the most minute detail.
See it, feel it, hear the sounds that accompany the end result (wind rushing through your hair, applause). Elite athletes visualize their performance ahead of time — right down to the smell of the sweat dripping down their face as they cross the finish line,” writes Next Avenue’s Suzanne Gerber in Forbes.
2. Get positive.
Think about all of the times that you procrastinated. What do you think the main culprit was? It was probably because you weren’t in the best of moods.
Via Temptation: Finding Self-Control in an Age of Excess:
“So procrastination is a mood-management technique, albeit (like eating or taking drugs) a shortsighted one. But we’re most prone to it when we think it will actually help. Well, far and away the most procrastination occurred among the bad-mood students who believed their mood could be changed and who had access to fun distractions.”
In fact, research has found that those who are happy are more productive and successful.
Of course, sometimes that sounds easier said than done when you’re completely surrounded by negativity?
You can actually train your brain to be more positive by observing your thoughts. This way you can identify what’s bothering you and start working on a solution. After that, think about the three best things that you to happened to you during the day before going to bed.
Additionally, showing gratitude, helping others, surrounding yourself with positive body, and paying attention to your health can also lift your spirits. It’s these motivational tips to succeed at anything that can make a difference in these areas.
3. Chart your progress.
Research from Harvard’s Teresa Amabile‘s shows that there’s nothing more motivating than progress. As she explains in her book, The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work, “This pattern is what we call the progress principle: of all the positive events that influence inner work life, the single most powerful is progress in meaningful work; of all the negative events, the single most powerful is the opposite of progress—setbacks in the work.”
“We consider this to be a fundamental management principle: facilitating progress is the most effective way for managers to influence inner work life.”
Tracking your progress allows you reflect on what how you’re achieving your goals. But, it also encourages you to develop healthy habits. And, it this was actually a hack perfected by Ben Franklin.
Start by making a spreadsheet that you’ll use to track your goals and habits. Next create a schedule where you set aside the time to work on these goals or habits.
Then, as explained Zen Habits Leo Babauta, review your day each evening.
“I look through the boxes for that day, and put a dot for the habits or goals I accomplished for that day, and an ‘x’ for those I didn’t. My goal is to have all dots and no ‘x’s. Then, I look at what’s coming up for the next day, so I am prepared for tomorrow.”
4. Focus on commitment, not motivation.
Motivational tips to succeed at anything go beyond what motivates you. Ask yourself, just how committed are you to your goal? It’s a fair question to ask. After all, we’ve all started something, like learning to speak a new language, losing weight, or pursuing a business idea, only for that motivation to fizzle.
Sometimes in order to stay motivated you shouldn’t focus on motivation. Instead, you should focus on commitment.
If you’re stuck, sit back and think about how important this for you and what you’re willing to sacrifice in order to achieve it? If you’re committed 100%, then motivation will follow.
5. Join a group.
Whether if it’s online forum or local support group, joining others who are going through the same experiences is one of the easiest and most effective ways to succeed. That’s because they can provide both advice and moral support to keep you going when you feel like giving-up. It’s also another way for you to track your progress and failures.
6. Treat yourself.
This may sound overly simplistic, but rewards feel good. Penalties, not so much. In fact, researchers have found that rewards are responsible for three-quarters of why you do things.
So, the next time you cross something off of your to-do-list, go ahead and treat yourself. Maybe snag those sneakers you’ve had in your Amazon Wish List. Or, go to dinner with your spouse or take that vacation you’ve been planning.
If you’ve run out of ideas, or stuck on how to reward yourself, try something called the commitment device. For example, give your best friend a $100. If you complete a task by a certain time, you’ll get the money back. If not, you lose that hundred bucks.
7. Make the journey fun.
One of the main reasons why we procrastinate, like when it comes to exercise for example, is that because there’s hard work involved. That doesn’t mean that you’re lazy. It just means that it’s so serious that it’s not enjoyable.
Instead, look for ways to make the journey fun or pleasurable. Remember, if your goal activity becomes a treat, then you’ll actually look forward to it. One way to achieve this is to gamify activities, sharing your goals with others, and even just using stickers to track your goals.
8. Find daily inspiration.
Make no mistake about. Inspiration is one of the best motivators. And, best of, inspiration can be found everywhere.
Every day, make sure that you seek out inspiration since it will help you sustain motivation. Sources of inspiration can include everything from blogs, magazines, books, quotes, online forums, friends and family, music, and movies.
9. Break down into smaller goals.
We’ve all been here at one point. You look at a large or long-term goal and get completely overwhelmed. Eventually, we lose motivation because that goal has taken way longer than expected.
No matter how awesome you are, it’s tough to maintain motivation when it take you months or years to accomplish. To resolve this problem, break that large goal into smaller goals along your journey.
10. Be wary of burnout.
When you’re not motivated, it’s easy for burnout to creep in. That’s why you need to be aware of the signs that burnout is approaching. This includes your health is getting worse, you can’t focus, you have no boundaries, and you’re working 24/7.
If you notice these signs, it’s time to take a step back and start looking for ways to step burnout in it’s tracks. Meditating, single tasking, working with someone else, switching work locations, and unplugging are just a couple of ways to prevent burnout.
Try out these motivational tips to succeed at anything right now to start achieving greater results in your life!
