How to Get Motivated

For me, summer is a season of opportunity. With more free time comes endless possibilities, but I find that too much free time can also be a curse. I know I am not the only one who plans grand things for a summer and never gets to fulfill them. We all have said ‘oh I’ll do that during the summer when I have more time’ at least once before. This summer I have given myself no option to procrastinate things that I want done. Motivation is one of those key things that we can’t complete any task we set ourselves without. There are a few things that I do when I am feeling that lack of energy and need to accomplish things. So if you have been waiting for the summer to get something done and you feel like time might pass you  by once more some of these tips could be valuable to you.

unsplash-logoDenys Nevozhai

• • Make your goals visible. If you want to achieve your goals make a list and put them in a place that you look everyday. On my bedside locker I have 4 things; a lamp, an alarm clock, a calendar and a to-do list. This means that everyday I see the short term and long term things I want to do. By breaking my goals down into smaller things to tick off on a to do list they are much easier to accomplish and this also keeps me on track.
  • Make a treat yo’ self list. If you saw last weeks post you will know all about this. I made a list of all of the small and big things that I want to treat myself or others to. This is a useful way of rewarding yourself when you complete tasks and goals. If you find that you are someone who lacks motivation, having a list of things that you could reward yourself to will definitely persuade you to do what needs to be done.
  • Make your bed every morning. I don’t know who the first person was to suggest this as a form of motivation or goal achieving for the rest of the day, but it actually works. I find that the simple task of making my bed each morning before I set off helps me to start the day in the right mind set. Since making my bed in itself is a small task, by completing it before really starting my day I already have achieved something before I go out the door, no matter how small. I find that motivation feeds off motivation, so in that sense, completing the small and seemingly insignificant tasks in the morning can lead to the completion of the bigger ones throughout the day.

unsplash-logoNik Lanús

• Don’t find time, make time. No matter what it is you need motivation to do, making time for it as opposed to finding time for it is what needs to be done. It’s normal to make excuses and say that ‘there just isn’t enough time’ or ‘there are not enough hours in the day’. Remember, you have the same amount of hours in a day as Beyoncé :’). If your goal is something that you are serious about achieving you will make time to achieve it. 

unsplash-logoHeather Zabriskie

• • Tell someone about it. Nothing motivates me more than knowing that I have disclosed my goals to someone else. No one wants to fail, so by openly telling people your goals you will be motivated to achieve them, as not to fail. This can be a more daunting one, but it is definitely effective.
  • Make a routine. Summer is certainly a time that lacks a routine and this can be counter productive. To increase productivity form a routine for the summer where you allocate an amount of time per day to achieving your goals or completing things on a to do list.

unsplash-logoJon Tyson

• Find a form of motivation that works and keep going back to it. I don’t know why, but watching classic movies like ‘Mean Girls’, ‘Wild Child’ and ‘Clueless’ always leave me feeling really motivated afterwards. When I feel like I am really lacking motivation I turn to these types of movies, it might sound senseless, but it works for me. Find what works for you, it could be a certain TED Talk, a podcast, going for a walk or just chilling out. There is something different that works for everyone, focus on what works for you and use it to your advantage.

Don’t let this summer be wasted time. Do what you have been meaning to do!

See you all next week.

Stay Beautiful,

Much love,

Laura x