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.

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