Simple Mind Tips & Tricks to Stay Motivated

In no way am I an expert at staying motivated at all times, but I found some ways that have kept me movin' even when it's the last thing I want to do.

Alright guys,

so let’s be honest: everyone struggles with staying motivated. Sometimes we see those people that never stop moving and our heads just tilt to the side with the implied question of, “how?”. But the thing is, those people are probably not happy about it all the time and may be in desperate need of sitting on the couch. So how do they keep going? How do they not give in to that new show or a beer with their friends? These are the eternal questions.

Now, I am not necessarily someone who is an expert on this topic. There are times when I absolutely give into the beer, if not, I don’t know, four? However, at the end of the day, I try not to let anything slide through the cracks. I am still a student, and there are many moments throughout the day when I wonder, “What is this specific lecture or assignment doing for me? Is this worksheet going to actually get me where I want to be?” If we are being honest: no, probably not, but the degree will. This leads me to my first tip:

1. Focus on the end goal!

Often, we forget about the reasons behind all the hard work. We get caught up in all the random responsibilities of the day and we lose sight of what we want to accomplish in the long run. This will cause anyone to lose motivation. I find myself feeling this way frequently. I spend an entire day going to class, then work, and then studying, plus random errands in between. Finally, it’s night time and you’re exhausted, and you think, “why am I killing myself for these stupid tasks?”.

SO, whenever I start hearing those thoughts go through my head, I take a step back and remind myself what my end goal is. It’s even a good idea to write down a couple of long-term goals that are important to you. The key is to narrow it down to no more than three because any more and it can get overwhelming. Also, make them specific or they won’t feel as feasible.

This way, every time you feel unmotivated or just frustrated with life in general, go back and look at those goals. Those goals you wrote down will remind you why you are working so hard. At the end of the day, if you accomplish that long-term goal, it WILL BE WORTH IT! That is the most important part to remember: all the hard work will be worth it, and that much more rewarding.

2. Just take a quick break (:

I know sometimes this can even be difficult. Either you don’t feel like you have time to sit down for five minutes or you end up sitting down for three hours too long. When I am struggling with a long day or a task, such as homework, that is physically paining me to finish, I take a break. BUT I set a timer for that break. I will give myself 20 minutes to an hour depending upon how much time I have. Do something that makes you happy during that break. That could be writing in your journal, going for a run, having a glass of wine, or even taking a quick nap. Whatever it may be, treat yourself for a moment, go back to step one, and then continue with your day and responsibilities. Hopefully feeling slightly more refreshed and positive.

3. Passion does NOT equal motivation

Now, this is more of a mindset than an action, but if you can remind yourself of it consistently and eventually adopt it, it will be beneficial. I want to give credit where credit is due, so I first heard this concept in Jaci Marie and Chelsey Curtis’s WhatWeSaidPodcast. It really stuck with me because I am guilty of associating the two. Many times, I have set a goal or started a project and been fully committed; however, as time goes on, I decide it’s not my “passion” anymore. Unfortunately, in reality, I just lost motivation and gave up. I’m sure many people have this same problem. However, I agree that a lack of motivation does not mean this certain something is not your passion. You may just be discouraged, which leads me to my next tip…

4. Switch it up a bit! Make it more fun.

This can be strangely effective. Humans don’t like change, so we all get in our little routine and we don’t dare stray from it. This can be healthy in many ways, but it can sometimes be negative. Most times when I lose motivation, or I’ve seen others lose motivation, it’s because they’ve gotten bored. Boredom is dangerous. We may have become discouraged and bored and now the motivation is gone, along with the excitement. So, I say, SWITCH IT UP. This doesn’t even have to be a major change. If you normally study at the library: go to a coffee shop you’ve never been to. If you’ve been working on the same artistic project (writing, painting, photography, etc.) for a long time: start a new one and go back to the other one later. Sick of the same gym routine? Try a new class at a new studio. Just do whatever you can to make it somewhat new again and the renewed motivation should follow!

5. Do NOT focus on the negatives

This one may seem obvious, which it kind of is, but it can be the most difficult. It takes a long time to develop a thick skin and to not let the negatives get to you. This explains why we are often drawn to people that have positive energies. We all want to be that person who is always happy and looks at the glass half full. If you are like me, this isn’t the easiest feat. I tend to look at the positives, but only regarding others. When it comes to personal situations, I allow myself to spiral into the negatives and lose any sort of motivation I had. What has helped me the most is writing down the positive things that happened to me that day. I try to include a positive that relates to my end goal and the others can be something as simple as having my favorite smoothie. Motivation is difficult to hold onto and it is even harder if we allow the failures to overshadow the progress that we have made.

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I hope these tips will be somewhat helpful to all of you. No, they are not an exact science, but I have found that these mindsets and simple actions have kept me more productive and more excited about my goals. It takes time to change a mindset, but it is important to start somewhere. ALSO, don’t forget to acknowledge the progress you have made whether it be big or small because we all deserve some old-fashioned encouragement. We are ALL worth it.