5 techniques to motivate yourself

I am sick. I have some sort of lovely cough+cold combination and since I'm deathly allergic to guaifenesin, I have to just hydrate myself intensely and hope I can cough out whatever is living in my lungs. Yesterday I spent the entire day in bed so tired I was falling asleep while texting my boyfriend. That's not normal. Today I am up and awake, but it's not without the help of two cups of Tazo Awake tea and (so far) a cup of coffee. Even then I'm struggling to motivate myself to do the work I had to skip yesterday. Normally, turning on some loud music, cleaning and a cup of coffee will get me jumping, but today, it doesn't seem to be working for me. When you feel unmotivated, what do you do to help yourself?

I decided to simply use my Google-fu and see what other people use as motivational techniques. I'd love to hear what my health activists are using to keep themselves going when times are tough, whether physically or mentally! I found a ton of ideas and took advantage of one right away:

1. Learning Group reminded me that I need to make my workspace work WITH rather than against me. I cleaned off my desk. It didn't take me long and I have very little left on my desk to distract me. (A cup of coffee, my mouse, my laptop, a picture of my best friend and I, a plant, a clock and a small bottle of water.) Even with that done I feel like I can tackle more.

2. The LifeHack.com technique I tackled immediately was "go for five" - "start working for five minutes. Often that little push will be enough to get you going." Four minutes ago I started this and look how much I've been able to do thus far. I can do this stuff!

3. Since I know I'm going to have to dedicate some of my weekend to working (oh the joys of being sick and working from home!) I also utilized the LifeHack.com technique of "kickstart your day." "Plan out tomorrow. Get up early and place all the important things early in the morning. Building momentum early in the day can usually carry you forward far later." Tomorrow morning I might not get up "early," per se, but as soon as I do, I know exactly what I have to do. That will assure me I'll get my tasks done before I get to play.

4. The Sykes Group gives a seemingly cheesy but personally effective tip when they encourage us to make "positive affirmations for success." One of their examples struck me and I not only said it aloud, but I put it on a notecard that is now staring at me from my bulletin board above my desk. "I always write down my priorities thinking of my responsibilities. I may not get everything done, but I will do the most productive thing possible at every given moment." I am a list-maker and seeing what I have to do is encouraging and daunting. I may not get everything done, but I will be productive while I try to do it!

5. Another encouraging motivational technique from The Sykes Group is to "set goals for success." They remind me to set "SMART" goals ... specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-based. SMART and specific.

I know you have work to do out there, and so rather than distract you by continuing to share my motivational technqiues, I encourage you to get to work and when you're taking a break, or when you're feeling unmotivated, you head to Rimborsolicenza.org and read their Six simple techniques to motivate yourself and then go to The Learning Group and read their tips for Emotional intelligence in work and life; both articles are chock-full of encouragement to get up and get going! Get going and take this tiny link with you - share the motivation! http://bit.ly/ar9w5H

Then, I ask you again: when you feel unmotivated, what do you do to help yourself?

Be Well,

Sarah

Tags: emotional stress, life hacks, motivation, motivational techniques, women's health

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Comment by Ellen S on February 19, 2010 at 11:40pm: What do I do? Just about everything you just mentioned - and add some fun music and the company of my fuzzy pals. :) For me, being motivated has much to do with feeling passion for what I'm doing. When I'm passionate, even when I feel lousy, something always comes out. Sometimes I need to wait until the next day to completely understand what I wrote (lol) and perfect it, but passion for me, really is the key.

Do you equate motivation and passion together too? or do you think they are mutually exclusive of one another?

Oh yes, and I have a cute little handmade teddy bear, created by my best friend from Jr High - my swimming bear is blue and white (my High School colors) and made of a fun swim team pattern. He cheers me up and reminds me that I'm still the same person inside now that I was in the days when I felt normal and dove at the sound of a starting pistol. :)

5 techniques to motivate yourself

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