Ways to Motivate Yourself
52 Easy Yet Highly Effective Ways to Motivate Yourself
Getting motivated is hard, especially when you're in a funk or stressed about one of the many things going on in your life — or in the world in general. Forget pushing yourself to follow your dreams; it can even be difficult to stay motivated enough to get through the activities that are meant to help you get motivated enough to complete your daily responsibilities. Have you ever been writing a to-do list, only to get caught up in your favorite Netflix show, for instance? Or been heading to the gym, only to realize you've just wasted 45 minutes scrolling through your phone, with only one athletic sock on? A lack of motivation can thrust you into an unhealthy cycle that may seem like it will never end — but, there are ways to overcome these issues and find motivation that will last. These simple yet effective tips will help you hit the "refresh" button on your life and let you become the person that achieves whatever they set their mind to. Here, the best things you can do to get motivated, whether you're trying to get fired up enough to complete that at-home workout, apply to a new job, make the first move on your crush, or just get out of bed this morning.
— Additional reporting by Emily Co, Maya Berry, Tara Block, and Naomi Parris
1 Try something new today.
2 Hack your to-do list.
3 Start exercising, and you'll feel like yourself.
4 Have a reward system, so you'll have something to look forward to.
5 Get the hard stuff done first thing in the morning.
6 Eat right.
7 Take a break to get some rest and recharge your mind.
8 Focus on the positive instead of the negative, and you'll feel more inclined to start new projects and take risks.
9 Find out what it'll take to get there.
10 Encourage others, and you'll automatically start seeing encouragement from them in return.
11 Read biographies of the people you look up to for inspiration.
12 Reflect on the times when you worked hard and succeeded at your task.
13 Remind yourself that it's better to try and fail or succeed than living with regrets.
14 Set your alarm clock to remind you when it's time to start on your task.
15 Find something you truly enjoy, and do it.
16 Close your eyes, and visualize yourself reaching your goals.
17 Take a walk outside, and let nature reset your mind.
18 Get more sleep.
19 Drink coffee for a quick jolt.
20 Take a small step.
21 Wake yourself up from your slump with a cold shower.
22 When doing a task you don't want to do, play energizing music to help you get through it.
23 Prepare early so you're not in a rush.
24 Push yourself.
25 Grow your willpower.
26 Set a deadline for a task to spur you to get it done before the time is up.
27 Focus.
28 Get a friend to join you to make whatever you're doing more enjoyable.
29 Clean up your home or your workspace, and you'll feel like you can get more done in a decluttered environment.
30 Let go of your fears, and you may feel brave enough to take on challenging tasks.
31 Do something you enjoy when you first get up.
32 Share your goals with others.
33 Fake it till you make it.
34 Bring light into your room.
35 Don't compare yourself with others or you'll get discouraged.
36 Have realistic expectations.
37 Read The Last Lecture.
38 Stay excited.
39 If you fail, pick yourself up and keep going.
40 Keep track with a journal.
41 Listen to motivational stories from audiobooks, TED Talks, documentaries, and more.
42 Place motivational quotes around your home and workspace.
43 Volunteer.
44 Dress to impress yourself.
45 Write down a few things you're grateful for.
46 Give yourself a pep talk, and tell yourself that you are awesome.
47 Drop the projects that you might not be totally committed to and focus on the ones you're really passionate about.
48 Make motivating yourself into a habit.
49 Tell yourself that nothing worthwhile is ever easy.
50 Know that only you have the power to create your dreams and generate motivation.
51 Write down where you see yourself in five years, and stick that note in a visible place.
52 Turn it into a challenge with a time limit.
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