6 Ways to Stay Motivated and Positive
Have you ever read a motivational book, watched an inspiring video, or tried to implement a new habit, only to give up after a few days? I have, and it got me thinking: Why can I stay focused and motivated on some things, but not others?
I’ll give you an example. I have always struggled with my weight. I’ve tried so many different things and been successful on some occasions, only to have it creep back on when I lose focus. I don’t seem to have that issue with studying or other types of goals. So it got me thinking…..What’s going on? Why is it that I get motivated, inspired, and have all these great ideas, but then nothing happens?
And I have come to the conclusion that I need to understand what I really want out of the goal. Is it an end goal (i.e results like getting a grade) or a process goal – something that has to be enduring, like maintaining a healthy weight. The want has to be enduring and sustainable.
When I’m lacking motivation or energy, I start with these three questions:
- What do you want out of this day?
- What have you done today to get closer to those things?
- What could you do right now that would move you toward your goals?
When I am honest with myself, the answers to these questions allow me to energize myself for each day’s activities. So, I have come up with a list of self-care tips that can guide you to stay motivated and positive when you’re having not such a great day.
- Set aside time for yourself every day. Practice self-care. Schedule a moment where you are not answering calls, scrolling on social media, responding to a mail, or watching a favorite movie. There are a lot of distractions in the world. However, if you don’t set aside time to reflect, you cannot move forward. Even if it is 5 minutes every day, know that you deserve it.
- Reward yourself for every little thing. This does not mean with negative habits like eating unhealthily or buying that expensive gadget. It means setting little milestones for your life, like finishing an assignment on time and then rewarding yourself by watching your favourite show or buying your favourite coffee. Self-reward doesn’t always need to be money or time-consuming.
- Surround yourself with positive-minded people. Sometimes you need a little extra push to get through the day. That’s why it’s so important to surround yourself with people who are positive and motivated. With positive people in your life, keeping your head up is that much easier. It’s like a breath of fresh air when you’re feeling down.
- Visualize yourself succeeding. You’ve probably heard this one before, but there’s a reason for that! It works! Take a few minutes every morning or evening to picture what it would be like for you to succeed. Create a picture in your mind on you being in the place you want to be. Spend some time thinking about how good it will feel for you to make it to the other side of this challenge!
- Starve your distractions. It’s so easy to let yourself get distracted, isn’t it? Whether your distraction is the latest reality TV show, the latest flavour of ice cream, your kids (or pets), or the bed that looks so comfortable right now. It’s easy to find things that will capture your attention and keep it away from what you should be doing. When you don’t feed your distractions, you’ll get more time for yourself.
- Help others. Creating a positive influence in people’s life brings an unusual feeling of joy. It doesn’t have to be some momentous task. Bringing in the bin for your neighbour, opening a door for someone struggling with their hands full or holding open the lift doors, all helps with increasing your positivity and mood.
With all the negativity around us displayed in the news and on social media, it becomes difficult to understand why we do what we do. And sometimes we may feel like we are not making any difference. Let these tips be a booster for you to escape negativity and stay motivated.
Remember that only you and your mindset can generate the positive energy you need. You can practice some tried and tested routines that can get you on your feet whenever you are down. Different things motivate everyone. First, understand what motivates you and you will be on your way.
