Motivation is an emotional response. Hard truth: if you’re waiting for motivation, you’re going to be waiting for a long time. So how do you get motivated?
Watch or listen to the video where I’ll talk you through exactly what you can start doing today to reach your goals! Or keep reading for the quick rundown.
Make sure to grab the free cheat sheet so you can put these tips into action and get motivated today!
Self-Discipline
Motivation is an emotional response that is fickle and will leave you hanging. Instead, you have to choose to take control of your life. Believe that you have complete control over reaching your goals. Life happens but you can still control how you react to whatever life throws at you.
Instead of asking “how do I get motivated?” just CHOOSE to do what you need to do. Easier said than done, so read on and I’ll show you how!
Know Your Why
Set goals that connect with you and come from your heart. You’re never going to get motivated to achieve a goal someone else told you to go after. There’s a difference between your doctor telling you to lose weight, and you deciding that you want to improve your health.
Look inward and choose a goal that you truly want to achieve because it will make you feel good. Your WHY is what will get you moving when you don’t know how to get motivated. Creating a life you love is pretty powerful stuff.
Write Down Your Goals EVERY DAY
If you have a crazy big goal, you can lose track of it as you take the little steps each day. To stay in touch with your big goal, write it down every day to keep it at the top of your mind. This is how you will get motivated each day.
I love starting every morning by writing down my big goal, why it’s my big goal, and the steps I’m taking that day to work toward it. That way I start the day in a positive emotional space where I’m super motivated to get going!
Break Down Your Goals
Big goals aren’t achieved overnight just because you decided you want to do it. I wish it were that easy! But it’s not.
If you’re setting a huge goal for the year, you need to break that goal down into steps. What needs to happen each month to get you there? Each week? Set aside time to break down the monthly goals, then each month plan out each week, and each week plan out your days.
Break your goals into small enough steps that you are 90-100% confident that you can accomplish them. Make each step do-able enough and you won’t have a hard time figuring out how to get motivated.
Schedule Time for Your Goals
Here comes a huge mindset shift. Value the time you need for yourself and your goals. That time is just as valuable as the time you schedule with other people.
This can be really hard for some people so start by scheduling 1 hour each week to work toward your goals.
Accountability
This is how you will get motivated when you’d rather lay on the couch and play games on your phone.
An accountability partner is a great option. They can text you or call when you’re supposed to be working on those goals and say hey! Are you getting this done? No? Then get your butt up and do it!
For me, knowing I will be in pain if I don’t do my exercises is pretty dang motivating. You can read more about my chronic pain journey in my Training Logs.
Know what the consequences will be if you don’t get your stuff done and have an accountability parter to help.
Keep Moving
Inaction is far worse than messy forward progress. It’s ok if you don’t know exactly what you should be doing. If you aren’t working toward your goals because you haven’t had a chance to figure out each little step, then just DO SOMETHING.
Schedule time to plan, or just take some kind of action that moves you toward your goal. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Because getting moving is the hardest part. You will get motivation once you get moving. Promise.
Pick a Trigger
Create a sequence of actions that will “trigger” you to start working. Every morning I get up, make some tea, do my exercises, and start working on whatever I need to do that day.
A lot of people love using music – either a specific song or a playlist that will put you in the right emotional place to get you motivated.
Don’t Forget to Celebrate!
No matter how small a step you take, do something to celebrate! If you’ve struggled with motivation, every single step is a victory. So do some kind of small self-care thing to celebrate!
It’s the small things that no one sees that create the results that everyone wants.
Craig Groeschel