{"id":1252,"date":"2018-09-13T13:28:11","date_gmt":"2018-09-13T13:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/?p=1252"},"modified":"2021-09-19T17:08:28","modified_gmt":"2021-09-19T17:08:28","slug":"self-motivation-techniques","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/self-motivation-techniques\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Quick, Simple Self-Motivation Techniques for Maximum Effectiveness"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you struggle to start tasks that are in your best interests?<\/p>\n

Or when you\u2019re in the thick of an important job, do you wriggle around like an ADHD child, looking for any excuse to do something else?<\/p>\n

If so, motivation might be the culprit.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you\u2019re over-identifying with that little voice in your head\u2026<\/p>\n

The one that says you might not do a perfect job, so what\u2019s the point in starting…<\/p>\n

Or acting on another impulse that says you\u2019ve done enough for the day and deserve a Mars Bar.<\/p>\n

Poor motivation, however, doesn\u2019t result in miniature trophies (unfortunately).<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s look at how to tackle it.<\/p>\n

Lack of Motivation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Some days it can feel like you\u2019re in the zone, ploughing through a to-do list, building momentum and achieving a sense of fulfilment through completion.<\/p>\n

You reach the end of the day tired, but satisfied, knowing that you\u2019ve made progress.<\/p>\n

Humans are wired for such development.<\/p>\n

It seems strange then, that on another seemingly equal day, it can feel like we\u2019re running through treacle.<\/p>\n

Like my erratic golf swing, we just don\u2019t know what we\u2019re doing differently. Why\u2019s today so hard?!<\/p>\n

Nothing\u2019s easy. Just scanning your to-do list makes you cry silently inside, let alone actually deciding which herculean task to start.<\/p>\n

And when you do finally get going, you\u2019re like a two-year-old who\u2019s been force-fed sugar for three hours. You simply can\u2019t sit still, envisaging all the other activities you\u2019d prefer to be doing.<\/p>\n

So why does our motivation frequently hinder us and what can we do about it?<\/p>\n

The Power of the Mind<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Outwardly, nothing\u2019s changed. As usual, we all have to get up, try to put our trousers on the right way round and generally behave like passable humans.<\/p>\n

So instead, we must look within, towards our dastardly little minds.<\/p>\n

You see, the mind\u2019s changeable, like the weather.<\/p>\n

For no particular reason, one day can be bright and sunny, and we\u2019re streaking through our to-do list like a boss.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, it can be a bleak, miserable, pig of a day and it feels like we\u2019re velcroed to the spot.<\/p>\n

On the stormy days, our thoughts and emotions swirl, while we try desperately to cling onto our wreckage like a little survivor on the high seas.<\/p>\n

On such days, it’s vital to have some mental frameworks ready to counter the soft little mermaid voices in your head trying to lure you onto the rocks…<\/p>\n

Some jiggery-pokery to help you reframe the situation and get to work.<\/p>\n

So, without further ado, here are three reminders to repeat when you\u2019re struggling with motivation.<\/p>\n

Three Essential Self-Motivation Techniques<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Poor motivation can stem from a variety of sources.<\/p>\n

If your triggers are different, change the wording to best reflect your feelings and re-initiate action.<\/p>\n

The idea behind these gears, like driving a technicolour motivation-mobile, is to shift up to the next gear when you develop momentum.<\/p>\n

Gear One<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Firstly, when we feel blocked or unmotivated to start, it might be because we\u2019re placing too much pressure on ourselves, either imagining the best performance or outcome possible.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s to say when perfectionism takes over.<\/p>\n

And like when driving a car up a really steep hill, at these times we may have to shift to first gear to get us moving again.<\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re having a psychological meltdown and just can\u2019t seem to start any task, repeat the following:<\/p>\n

“Any expectations I\u2019m projecting are completely self-imposed. It doesn’t really matter”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019ll often use this gear when I\u2019m frustrated with my work, especially when it feels like it\u2019s not generating the results I\u2019d envisaged.<\/p>\n

Reminding ourselves that outcomes are arbitrary and we can only control the effort we apply instantly lifts the weight from our shoulders.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve reset, the best method to regain action-taking velocity is to perform a mini-task, which should be completely unrelated to your primary objective.<\/p>\n

Tasks, like cleaning for two minutes or washing a couple of dishes, are perfect; low-grade activities incorporating movement take your awareness from mind to body, providing not only a sense of completion but also momentum.<\/p>\n

Gear Two<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Moving up to gear two should be an easier transition once you\u2019re moving and taking action once more.<\/p>\n

The gear two mindset builds on the mental framework of gear one, whereby you tell yourself the following:<\/p>\n

“Motivation’s a numbers game. The results are irrelevant”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is the mindset I usually adopt when I\u2019m starting or re-engaging in a task I\u2019ve been avoiding.<\/p>\n

The only way to judge yourself in this phase is by the amount of action you take, not the quality of that action.<\/p>\n

In that vein, increasing the speed of your execution can help transition quickly back into a proactive mindset.<\/p>\n