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6 tips for motivation when inspiration evades you

Posted over 7 years ago by Rob Markwell
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Motivation is not a state of mind, it’s a feeling and is often annoyingly elusive. Some days you’ve resolutely got it, you can actually feel the energy in your bones and creativity flows effortlessly – but on other days you just can’t lock in and focus, no matter how hard you try. You’ll stare at the computer screen, willing yourself to create, only to find yourself uninspired and bereft of ideas.

We’ve all been there and although you may feel hopeless, resigning yourself to tacking it anew tomorrow, there are some practical solutions that’ll help source your lost motivation – and get the job done with a sense of passion precisely when you need to.

1. Mind over matter
Don’t think about it as hard work. Once you’ve made the choice to do something, try not to think so much about how difficult or frustrating or impossible it might be. If the task you’re faced with isn’t viewed as an arduous one, but rather as a piece of a puzzle helping you along your career path, the energy required to do it should be easier to come by. Remember, it’s only work if you call it that!

2. Get bite-sized
You must of course have a big aspirational goal. But by breaking it down into consumable mini-goals, you’ll feel like you’re making progress during the journey, with a sense of accomplishment at each completed stage. That feeling of progress and achievement is a beautiful thing and will fuel your motivation to continue towards your overall aim. Take it step by step and you’ll turn around down the line and realise just how far you’ve come.

3. Read all about it!
Make time in your day to read. Dedicate time each day to reading; whether it’s industry news, thought leadership articles, or anything else that fuels your creativity. Knowledge is power and the broader perspective and insight it provides, invariably helps you achieve goals and heightens motivation. Developing a daily ready habit will lead to a long-lasting impact on your thought processes and ultimately inspire you across all areas of your life.

4. If it doesn’t matter, don’t mind it
Thinking about things or even doing things that don’t bring value to our lives costs us an enormous amount of mental energy. Take your to-do list, be ruthless with the things you know that you don’t truly need to do and strike them off of your list. You’ll stay consistently motivated if you spend your precious energy on activities that are inherently meaningful. It’s not always necessary to finish something you started if you can’t remember the reason you started it in the first place.

5. Timeout
Successful entrepreneurs tend to stray from the typical 9am-5pm shift and thanks to global accessibility via the online world, it’s easier than ever to indulge in a 24-hour workday. But it’s important to set a realistic and genuine power-off time for yourself and to stick to it. Find what works for you – maybe it’s not answering emails after 8pm, or designating Sundays a non-work day. You’ll feel refreshed and more productive if you can build in much needed down time. 

6. Celebrate to appreciate
Take a moment to acknowledge the good that you’ve achieved. Don’t sweat the small stuff but don’t discount it either; there’s no harm in praising yourself for the smallest of accomplishments, from getting in early, to clearing your inbox – we all need more wins in life. This will allow you to recognise your achievements and encourage you to keep it up. If you’re constantly waiting to hit long-term goals, it’s easy to forget how crucial the little things are; it’s deeply challenging to stay motivated if there’s no reward in sight. Treat yourself and don’t underestimate the gratification of incremental advancements.