Helena Nyman

Do you feel challenged to motivate yourself?

By Helena Nyman

We all had moments where we felt that motivating ourselves to do something can be difficult. It is a fact that whatever it is that you need to get yourself to do, it takes work. Sometimes, it can be challenging to get yourself in the mood to tackle large tasks or jobs.

The next time you find yourself challenged for motivation, try this:

• Set goals: You will find it is easier to motivate yourself. Make sure to write them down (I even create a vision board). By seeing your goals written down, it may be easier for you to tackle one at a time. Sometimes big goals will take baby steps to reach the end. As you complete one goal you can then cross it off your list. Seeing what you have accomplished will help you stay motivated to keep working towards your goal.

• Get excited about your goals or job that you need to accomplish. Think about how accomplishing those goals will set your mind at ease and leave you free to do the things you really want to do.

• Focus on the good feeling that the end result will give you and work towards that. If you are trying to stop smoking, keep in mind how much money you will save on cigarettes, or how much better you will smell when you do not smoke. With those ideas in mind, it is easier to stay focused on your goals.

• Find what you love to do and try to incorporate that in accomplishing your goals. Maybe that laundry is not what you love, but some good music can get you going (Aha, now I know why all our neighbors are dancing around doing laundry...). Or perhaps, losing weight is difficult, but you know you love walking the dog for exercise. Knowing what motivates you is the key to keep you going when you are working towards a certain goal.

• Build a support system. Your friends, family and supportive co-workers can all help you stay motivated. Surround yourself with those that can give you pep talks and talk you through the rough times. You can even check into web-based communities that can offer you a lot of support while trying to reach your goal.

• Set milestones. Take steps to accomplish certain parts of your job in a certain amount of time. If you need to clean out the closet, you may not be able to do it in only one day, but you can do it in small steps. Maybe go through all the clothes in one day and go through the shoes the next day. By setting milestones and sticking to it, you are less likely to become overwhelmed when you have a big task ahead of you.

• Think about the future. Consider how you would feel later in your life if this particular goal is never reached. Is this something that you feel strongly about accomplishing for your life's goals? While cleaning out the closet may not affect your life long-term, maybe getting those boxes of pictures organized will. Perhaps you will feel like a failure if you never finish writing that novel or never get your degree. When you think about your goals long-term, you are more likely to feel motivated to accomplish your goals.

Reward yourself after you have accomplished you goals. If you lose twenty pounds, reward yourself with a new dress or pair of jeans. After you spend weeks getting your house organized, celebrate by having company over. It does not matter what you choose to reward yourself with, but knowing that something good waits for you after a long task will help you focus and stay motivated.

To sign up for Helena's weekly Motivational Newsletter, or for her bi-weekly Executive News.