Putting the "I" back into motivation

Wouldn't it be nice to finally hear some good news as opposed to all the doom and gloom surrounding the economic downturn? Whilst it certainly is tough out there (there’s no denying it), one of the unnecessary fuels to the so called fire of doom and gloom is the fact that everybody gets caught up in the negativity thereby losing all trace of ambition, determination, goal drive, self motivation … call it what you will.

Now more than ever before it is essential that you stay focused and above all motivated.

How? I hear you ask …

By sticking to these simple tips, you will be able to put the “I” back into motivated.

• There’s no point setting yourself goals that are so out of reach that you’re setting yourself up for failure from the outset. 

Decide on a series of realistic and achievable short-term, medium-term and long-term goals. Then write them down. Print them out or write them on post-it notes and stick them all around the house. Think of them as affirmations. Read them out loud whenever you walk past them and keep these goals top of mind. You must always have something to aim for and look forward to. Then share your goals with friends and family members. As soon as you articulate your goals, they are far more likely to become real.

• Try your best to ignore any negativity around you.

Whilst workplaces can often be a fun and social environment, in tough times they can also be festering pits of negativity. Whether we like it or not we feed directly off the moods around us. Have you ever gone to work in a great mood and by 10am felt stifled, crushed and defeated and wondered how that could have happened in just one hour? More than likely it’s because someone working around you came to work in a bad mood. Feeding off their negativity is terrible for your motivation. Stay strong and focus only on your goals and don’t let anyone else vacuum your confidence, enthusiasm or motivation out of you.

• Stop procrastinating …

Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today. An old cliché I know but it’s easy to think “I may as well do it at a later stage”, or “now’s not the right time”. I have one thing to say. Now IS the right time and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. But just remember … one goal at a time. Don’t try to achieve everything at once, or you will be setting yourself up for disappointment. 

Image courtesy of: aaronwtong