Get Motivated Stay Motivated

There is a simple way to stay motivated that few people know about. In fact it so easy you may feel that it is unfair to be so energetic and motivated with no effort while others struggle and fail to get into action.

I`ll tell you about this simple way to stay motivated as long as you take full responsibility for the inspiration and drive you experience as a result. Do we have a deal?

Here is the secret: http://www.peterwmurphy.com/motivationfire.html

As mentioned in this blog, one way to get motivated and stay motivated is to put your goals in a piece of paper and paste/hang it on your wall.  This will remind you of your goals and will motivate you to work on it.  Another thing is to post a motivating poster, picture, or painting in your wall or put it in a place where you can easily see it.  Something that would brighten up your day as you wake up, or make you smile when you feel sad, keep you calm when you are tensed, and motivate you not to quit when you feel like giving up.

Maybe you have seen some motivational posters in the internet already.  I just found a website, Bighugelabs.com, where you can create your own customized motivational poster.  All you have to do is prepare a nice photo, and motivational message.  Then upload your photo on their website and just fill up the form for your title and motivational message. Here is the layout of the poster:

Wouldn’t it be nice to put your photo, your loved one’s photo, maybe your pet, or anything that will motivate you?  Then write your own motivational message or quotes on it, and then it might just make your day.

Procrastination is most prevalent when we have a big deadline to beat.  We only become “more productive” when this deadline is approaching.  We’re lucky enough if we did a good job and finished it on time. But what happens most is not being able to finish our task.  Most of the times we may finish it but the quality of our work might be in question.

Though some people prefer to do their job a day or hours before the big deadline, it is still not safe to assume that it is better that way.  By doing that, you are taking a risk.  If that task is related to your work, then you are taking risk of your job.  If you are working with a team, you are not only taking risk for yourself but for your teammates as well.  That would also risk your working and professional relationship with them.

A good way to avoid procrastinating over your task is to set up your own series of mini-deadlines.  First, divide your tasks into smaller ones. Then for each part of your tasks, set a deadline.  By dividing your tasks, it will be easier for you to do each small part which will be more motivating to work on.  Doing smaller tasks will not lure you to procrastinate.  Instead, you’ll be able to finish your whole task just before the big deadline comes.

Just be sure to beat your mini-deadlines though.  There is no reason for you not to beat your mini-deadlines because your tasks have been divided into smaller parts already.  Then, always put an allowance in setting your mini-deadlines.  You should be able to finish the last part days before the big deadline.  With lesser chances of procrastination, you should be able to finish your task early, giving you an extra time to do other things even those that are not related to your work without any worries of some unfinished task.

Have you ever felt tired or burned out in your life?  With all the stress and pressure that your job could have given you, its no wonder to feel tired and burned out.  We need to have a break at times for us to re-energize ourselves and get motivated once more with our jobs.  We need to enjoy life so that we won’t feel the burden that it gives us.  Isn’t childhood the most carefree, enjoying, and stress-free phase of our lives? We can learn a lot from our childhood days that would help us enjoy life and become worry-free.  Here are five things to learn from them:

• Children smile a lot and you can see the happiness in their faces with those smiles.
• Laughter is the best medicine as the saying goes.  Observe how children laugh.  They laugh heartily that even you would smile or even laugh as well when you see or hear their laughter.
• Children are open to learn things and are keen learners.
• Children are very creative.  You may sometimes be surprised on how and where they get some of their ideas.
• Failure is not an option for children.  They are eager to succeed or achieve in what they do.

We always say that we must be a good example or a model to children.  But children can serve as a model for us, adults, too.  Because of being so much of a work-a-holic, we sometimes need to be reminded that we should also smile often, laugh a little, and enjoy life once in a while.  Aside from getting a youthful glow, these simple things will also help us to relax ourselves amidst the stressful life we are in; help us energize ourselves from our life’s daily routine which includes our job.Another thing that we can get from those things mentioned above is that we can get ourselves motivated in doing our jobs and in accomplishing our dreams.  Children do not opt for failure so we should not opt for it, too.  These little children could serve as a stress-reliever for us, a model and an inspiration for us in achieving our goals.

One thing that keeps us from achieving our goals is the negative emotions.  It keeps on defeating us and makes us weak.  Some of the things that gives us negative emotions are criticisms against us, negative emotions, rejection, and many more.  But have you ever wonder why other people still manage to achieve with their goals? Simple.  They view these negative emotions as a feedback to themselves and use them to become a better person.

The criticisms, negative emotions, rejections, etc. can help you become a better person so why not choose that way instead of getting yourself miserable and/or hopeless with your dreams? If you think too much of these negative emotions and live with it, you’ll become miserable, depressed, and such.  Take it as a way to become a better person.  That’s what successful people do.  They accept these negative emotions and criticisms and analyse it.  That way, they will know which part of themselves they need to improve or change.

These successful people use negative emotions as a feedback in such a way that if what they are doing is not working, they stop it and think of an alternative that might just work for them.  Never expect that these negative emotions will just disappear sometime soon because they will not.  So view it in a different manner and become a better you – more motivated, determined, and confident to achieve your goals.  Take it from the high achievers.  They don’t let these negative emotions affect them negatively but they use it positively.

During the American Civil War, President Lincoln had trouble with General McClellan. He was a great organizer, but indecisive. Fear of making the wrong decision can lead you to make no decisions.

Or, as a wise old saying says: he (or she) who deliberates fully before taking a step, will spend all their life on one foot.

Here are some steps to help you deal with worries about making mistakes:

1. Accepting failure

One of the old movie moguls was once asked the secret of his success. He replied:

‘I was right fifty percent of the time’.

The message is simple: no-one is perfect, so don’t worry about making mistakes; you’re going to make them.

2. Be prepared

That’s the motto of the Boy Scouts and it applies in nearly every aspect of your life. The better prepared you are in whatever field of endeavor you are embarking, the less chance of a mistake.

So, if you’re building a swing set, read the instructions and get all the necessary tools. If you’re going on a job interview, get directions to the location, and leave early enough to get there on time.

3. Plan ahead

This has to do with scheduling. Whether you are painting a house, writing a report about the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan or taking your daughter to fencing class you have to set things up ahead of time.

How much time do you need to adequately complete the task? You can’t write a fifteen page report in a few hours. If you try to do so, you’ll fail.

Do you need some special equipment or materials to complete the job? Can you get it easily, or do you have to order it? Failure to plan ahead can lead to failure as surely as self-doubt.

4. Relative importance

As stated above, you will make mistakes in your life: they’re impossible to avoid. So, you have to learn to ask yourself just how important the issue is.

Often, the easy thing to ask is: in twenty years, will I look back and remember this issue? If not, then don’t let the fear of mistake rule your decision-making process.

5. Limitations

This is a delicate balancing act. On the one hand, you need to know your limitations and not try to take on more than you can handle. That will most certainly lead to failure.

Yet, on the other hand, unless you try to move beyond the realm of the possible into the impossible, you will never know what you can achieve.

This can mean dealing with failure, but that can also be a step forward; as the next point illustrates.

6. Take a tip from Thomas Edison

This is the man credited with creating much of the 20th century technology . Yet, he dealt with failure constantly.

When asked how he could do that and still find the strength and determination to go on, Edison just smiled.

The incandescent light bulb took hundreds of experiments to perfect. His attitude about each failure? Each experiment was merely one more he didn’t have to do again.

This is reflected in the Billy Joel song, ‘Second Wind’. In it, Joel says that you learn more from your mistakes than anything else in your life.

7. Avoiding risk

Making mistakes is one thing, taking genuine chances with personal safety – whether yours or someone else’s is quite another thing. Always be mindful of any risks connected with what you do.

Skydiving can be exciting and fun, but review the above points and be sure you’re ready to take such a chance.

Some people say that a hero is nothing more than a person who does what he knows is right, in spite of his/her own fears and self-doubts.

Be striving to make use of the tips outlined here, you can be the hero of your own endeavors.

It happens to the best of us: we have a job to do, we get ready to do it… in some cases, even starting it… and then we get a phone call.

Or our favorite show comes on.

Or someone knocks on the door.

We get hungry, sleepy, tired or any one combination of the three.

For whatever reason, we are more prone to distractions when we most need to focus. I don’t know of anyone more susceptible to this phenomenon than I am.

So I’ve put together a list of the methods I have used that have proven effective in keeping me focused on my assignments and on the tasks that need to get done. Some may seem a bit unorthodox, but believe me, they work!

1. Make a list

I used to never make lists. I thought they took up time and were pointless. Then I made my first list.

I found that once the things I needed to do went from being abstract to concrete, the sense of urgency turned itself up a notch and I found myself much more pressed to do what I needed to do.

It’s a technique that still works in keeping me from getting sidetracked. Plus, crossing things off my list always makes me feel very accomplished.

2. Take a cool shower

I don’t know if it’s because I live in a generally warm climate or if it’s just because I like the cold, but nothing helps me focus more than taking a cool shower before I start anything.

The cold water will wake your body up, making it more alert and helping you to focus on the task that follows.

I always do this right after I write my list. I take a shower and while letting the cool water hit me, I think about the list and how best to tackle it.

3. DO ONE THING AT A TIME!

Do NOT move on to something else until you have finished what you started. Period. The moment you do that, you are doomed to get distracted and, at that point, you might as well get up and go get yourself a sandwich.

Which brings me to my next point…

4. Have everything you can possibly need at your fingertips

That means EVERYTHING, including food and water if necessary.

If you’re cleaning your house and you need a drink of water or something to eat, don’t go into the kitchen until you are done with the task you are undertaking.

If you’re at work and you’re doing something for your boss, whether you work in an office or in a store, make sure you have a drink and a snack close by; if you have a desk, keep healthy snacks in your desk drawer. If you need a drink, have one at your desk.

That way, you don’t have an excuse to wander off.

5. Turn off your phone or put it on silent

Your cell phone can be both your best friend and your worst enemy. If you have a cell, turn it off. If you can’t turn it off because of family, work, etc., then put it on silent or ask people to text you instead of calling you.

If you simply can’t deal, then turn it off or have it go straight to voicemail. Ditto for work phones.

If you absolutely cannot turn the ringer off, have some take your calls or send calls to voicemail. Check the voicemail when you are done.

6. Away Messages are your best friends

Use them a lot! For e-mails, for social networking and for instant messengers.

Don’t be afraid to set up automatic messages that tell someone emailing you that you are busy, or doing the same for IM. Believe me, people understand.

While you’re at it, set them and…

7. GET AWAY FROM THE INTERNET!

Unless you need to use it for a project for work, you don’t need to be online. You just don’t.

The kitchen won’t clean itself while you check your Yahoo. Your car won’t wash itself or your work won’t do itself. You get the picture.

And finally…

8. Develop a focus ritual; eliminate any and all distractions and get to work

Some people use music or turn on the television to give them some background noise to work with. Frankly, with me, that only works when I’m doing something mundane or repetitive, like typing something onto a spreadsheet or washing dishes.

But if I’m doing something that required concentration or focus, I cannot have any distractions. So I shut anything off that may be noisy or distracting and I get to work.

Everyone is different, so use whatever you can from this list of helpful tips, create your own ritual for getting things done, eliminate anything at all that doesn’t work into that ritual and get to work.

Once you’re finished with your tasks you will feel so much more accomplished and proud that you didn’t let anything stand in the way of getting it all done.

Dreams do come true as long as we can stay motivated in the face of setbacks. That´s where most of us get discouraged.

So often, reality doesn’t measure up to expectations. We can have all these grand plans, whether it is buying a house, making improvements to your kitchen, or write that novel we’ve always dreamed of.

When trying to get yourself psyched for a task, follow a few simple steps, and you’ll see yourself putting forth some real effort.

1. Know your limitations

Don’t set yourself up to fail by setting yourself a task that you can’t possible do.

If you know nothing about concrete, don’t try to build a patio for your house by yourself. If you know nothing about Scottish history, don’t think that you can write a book about William Wallace.

2. Planning and preparation

Once you’ve settled on what it is you’re going to do, whether it’s painting your daughter’s room or writing a book, plan things out, and prepare.

What are the things you need to do to complete the task, what materials do you need? In the case of the patio example, do you need a building permit? Contact the local building department and find out.

This all feeds into the next point.

3. Research

If you’re planning to tackle a substantial task, find out what you need to do it. If you’re planning to shoot a movie underwater, check out the cameras needed, the safety equipment and whether or not you’ll need to be proficient at scuba living. If so, and you’re not, sign up for a class.

4. Timeframe

Any job worth doing is going to take time. You can’t expect to write a novel or build an addition to your house in one day.

This goes hand-in-hand with point 1.

You have to allocate enough time to reasonably complete the task. Yet, you must also set yourself a time limit. Giving yourself too much time can lead to stagnation as you keep putting off to tomorrow what you should be doing today.

5. Enjoyment

It’s said that when we’re happy, time flies. So, selecting a task that gives you joy is a perfect method for insuring that you give it your all. That can be difficult when faced with something mundane like mowing the lawn. Well, that’s where point 6 comes into play.

7. Distraction

If the job you have to perform is something boring and uninteresting, you can easily find yourself giving nearly no motivation to it.

That’s where this feature can come into play: give yourself something else to entertain you. If you’re mowing the lawn, slip on an iPod full of your favorite music. Sometimes, the task will require you to be focused, so a distraction is uncalled for. In that case, work it into point 7.

8. Reward

This is a great means of getting a lot of efforts out of you and those working with you. The classic example is the high school sports team doing a carwash to raise money. If the players know that a pizza lunch, with all the trimmings, will be forthcoming when they’re done, they tend to work harder and better.

9. Personal gain

This sort of goes along with reward, but it can much more substantial. If you’re working as a drafter, and passing some college classes or a state test will allow you to get work as an engineer, and thus make more money, you’ll be highly motivated to do so.

When trying to get the most out of your efforts, there are a number of tools you can use to motivate yourself. Yet, the thing most important to remember is that you are only ever in competition with yourself. If reality doesn’t meet with expectation, don’t just assume you’ve failed or not given it your all.

Commitment is not an on/off proposition; you don’t give zero or a hundred percent. Be honest in your self-examination and give yourself credit for the effort you put forth.

When faced with a task to perform, many people often find getting started the hardest part of the entire job. But, as Benjamin Franklin said,

“Well begun is half done”.

Getting properly organized, working up a plan of attack, and finding a way to make the job something you can enjoy are key to getting it done right, and getting it done well.

Let’s look at some of those points.

1. First and foremost, work on something you truly love

That single step will help to awaken your passion and enthusiasm. If you’re a writer, and you love stamp collecting, write a story about that. It doesn’t matter if you think it’s not a subject others will find interesting.

If you’re passionate about it, and put that passion into your writing, others will love your story.

2. Look to make the job something you can relate to

Again, look at the example of writing. If you’re given the job of writing a war story and that’s not really your favorite subject, look for a way to turn it into something you do like.

Do you enjoy romance stories? Then try writing a love story set during a war; make the war the backdrop for your story, not its focal point.

3. Working environment

Some people need silence to work; others find the lack of noise positively deafening. Does the sound of rock music get your heart pumping and your mind racing with ideas? Then get yourself a stereo or iPod and crank it up!

4. Manageable chunks of work

Often, people will look at a large task and throw up their hands in defeat. How in the world can they possibly overcome something so huge? Split the task up into smaller ones that you can handle.

An example: you’re going to set up a stand at a conference.

OK, break it down.

Find out what you have to do to be part of the conference.

Make a list of the things you’re going to need in order to operate your stand.

Obtain the items you need, get them ready and so on.

The point is, make each task something small and easy for you to handle.

That leads to the next point:

5. Make a list

Trying to remember everything you have to do is nearly impossible; make a list!

This will help you to focus and organize your thoughts.

Also, as you complete a task, you can check it off of the list. This will give you a feeling of accomplishment and further stimulate you to keep at it.

6.Take small steps first

This goes along with point 4.

When faced with a difficult task, and one that requires great creativity, many people find it hard to get from point A to point Z, especially on one step!

So, don’t do it.

As an example, when trying to write a story, start with something simple and build on it.

Do you think the novel trilogy ‘Lord of the Rings’ sprang fully finished from the author’s mind? This also goes hand-in-hand with point 5, in a different sort of way.

You start with a very basic premise as item one, maybe even something generic like ‘Once upon a time’ or ‘The boy walked down the street’.

Then start to add things to the story, change them and so forth. As each point becomes more and more complex, you gradually build a full-fledged story.

The same principle can be applied to any creative endeavor.

When looking to tackle a task, you want to excited and driven to get it done and get it done well. The key to that is finding the things that work best for you to do just that.

Not everyone is the same, so don’t feel you have to use these items in the exact order or method outlined. Use them as a starting point and modify them as needed to help you find the best means to tapping into your creative streak.

Do that and every job will be a joy.

I recently heard from a friend who had been laid off at the newspaper she worked at because of the faltering economy. She didn’t have many job leads and her motivation was at an all-time low.  She felt that there was nothing more frightening than being a writer in an uncertain job market.  Panic and fear quickly took over; where would she go from go from there?

How would she pay her bills?

How would she cope with uncertainty?

Her mind was plagued with self-doubting, self-defeating thoughts and she began to spiral out of control, right into a dangerous state of anxiety that threatened to paralyze her into stagnant ground forever.

As she began to realize what a toll her predicament was leaving her in, it became clear to her that she needed to take action and do something to get herself out of the hole she was in.

Once she sat down and began to reflect on things, working through the paralyzing fear and the negativity that came along with the devastation of losing her dream job and having to start over from the beginning, everything started to make sense and she was on a roll!

Sometimes it takes a moment of crisis to help us refocus our thoughts and energies into what we want our professional and personal goals to be and what we need to accomplish.

The following points will help you focus and concentrate on the positive rather than dwell on the negative, motivating you to move forward into action rather than leaving you stuck in a rut.

Reading through them should help you gain some perspective into your particular situation:

1. Allow yourself to be upset and grieve if things have gone wrong

Sometimes you suffer from start-up inertia because you’re having to make a new start and you’re stubbornly holding on to the way things were.

It is perfectly normal to feel panicked, upset, angry, sad, even outraged; you wouldn’t be human if you didn’t feel that way.  Take some time to get in touch with those feelings.

The night my friend got laid off she drove home, fell into bed and literally could not move for 45 minutes.

Then she called me.

I got her to get up, take a long shower, change into some comfortable clothes, and then she spent some time sat in front of the television watching ‘Friends’.

Give your mind and body time to settle into the initial shock of change, whatever it may be. But focus primarily on how you feel and let those feelings out.

2. Take a DEEP BREATH!

Your mind deserves it, your body deserves it, your lungs deserve it.

Taking deep breaths improves circulation, calms anxiety and helps you focus.

Once you’re done moping, take a deep breath and start to move.

3. Organize your home, organize your life

Is your house a mess? What about your room or your home office? Can you not see yourself going through the piles of papers on top of your desk? Have you looked at your bills lately and seen what you have?

If you haven’t done any of these things, now is the time to do it.

There is nothing more stressful when we are in a state of panic than a living space that has no room for us to live in it.

So tackle the mess; wash those clothes, clean out that pantry, throw out the clutter, get those bills out of the way.

You’ll be surprised how much more motivated you will be when you surround yourself with cleanliness and order.

4. Surround yourself with positive people

Now would be a good time to reconnect with friends that you haven’t spoken to in a while, or even with the friends that you talked to just yesterday, those friends that always have an encouraging word, who are helpful and positive.

Do yourself a favor and avoid people who are always down in the dumps, or who always have something negative to say.

However:

5. Don’t confuse negativity with constructive criticism

Some friends may seem like they’re helping but they’re just feeding the cynicism. Conversely, friends that may appear to be negative are actually offering ways to help by sharing your experiences and showing you a better way to focus.

Listen to the people that are there for you, take what you can use, and dismiss those things that you don’t want to use or  hat you can’t use. Don’t allow yourself to be brought down by it.

Take charge of your life again.

6. Have someone objective to talk to

When possible, sometimes having an objective third party to talk to and run ideas by can be tremendously helpful.

In some cases, a therapist can be of vital importance in your growth process towards finding yourself and focusing on your career and life goals. They can provide you with a perspective that is sound, rational and unbiased, while still keeping your best interests in mind.

7. Keep a journal of your progress

Write your ideas and your thoughts down and read over them the day after. You will gain some valuable perspective and insight into your own growth and where you are at.

8. Get out of the house!

Take your laptop or notebook to the local coffee shop or park, somewhere with some interaction and get out into the world! This will give you a chance to get out of the house and possibly meet some people, network and create some opportunities towards accomplishing your goals.

9. Actively look for opportunities to do the things that you love most and turn them into opportunities for you

Do you enjoy attending art shows? Love doing volunteer work? Do you like fishing with friends or going to the library or attending meetings for local organizations?

These are all things that would not only satisfy the craving for you to do something that you enjoy, but it would also present you with opportunities to network, meet people that could help you get ahead, and spend time taking care of yourself and your mental and emotional health.

10. Finally, SMILE and BELIEVE!

Easier said than done, I know. Believe me, nothing about my friend’s situation warranted a smile and some faith. But had she not kept herself smiling, it would have been so much harder to be positive and pull out of that state of anxiety.

Believe in yourself and the things that you have accomplished and remember that you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to do.

So get your coat, get your shoes, get your smile and go out into the world!

Taking heed of these valuable insights will help you create and maintain a positive energy source in your life and keep inertia at bay. You will feel better, be more motivated and definitely more at peace.

All it takes is for you to make that first move. Don’t let panic paralyze you into inertia. Anything is possible; it’s up to you to make it happen!