There are two times when motivation is particularly important. The first is when we are about to start a new project. It can be daunting looking ahead and seeing everything we need to do, but if we can just push ourselves to take the first step, it can make everything that comes afterward a little bit easier.
Then there’s what happens when we’ve been going for a while and we still haven’t finished. Reality is setting in, and that first rush of energy and enthusiasm is a distant memory. Where do you find the motivation to keep going towards that elusive finish?
Some people are better at motivating themselves than others, and some things that affect motivation are out of our control. You’re more likely to want to do something if it’s something you enjoy or if you’re receiving a significant reward at the end of it. That might make it easier to find motivation, but sometimes you’ll still have to do something you really don’t want to do.
Finding a friend or group to go with you might help. You can ignore yourself, but when other people are there asking why you haven’t done something, it can give you that extra push. You could even make it a competition. Adding that extra challenge by trying to beat someone else can be a powerful motivator.
Targets and deadlines are also important. You need to be realistic and specific about what you’re trying to achieve. Setting lofty goals is no good if you don’t have a hope of reaching them, and an open-ended finish point doesn’t give you any motivation to push yourself.
Realism also means acknowledging your own weaknesses. Sometimes you’re physically, mentally or emotionally incapable of doing something right now. That’s alright. It just means you’re human. Take a break and give yourself a chance to recover.
Learning the difference between “I literally can’t do this right now” and “I really don’t want to do this right now” is an essential part of achieving your goals. If you push yourself when you can’t do it, you could end up with problems, but you can’t let that slip into excuses. It’s a delicate line to walk.
No one feels motivated all the time, but with a little self-awareness and a few simple tricks, you should find a way to push on when necessary.
