Motivation is what drives us to make things happen -- but staying motivated is not all that easy! Oftentimes, our responsibilities and just life in general can get extremely overwhelming. You might feel like you are not improving or moving towards the goals that you want to achieve. During these times getting motivated to do anything can be difficult. As hard as this may seem, following through with your responsibilities and commitments is very important.
Types of Motivation:
Learning about the two types of motivation is a good place to start when you are trying to get motivated. Here they are:
Positive Motivation - Focusing on positive things that can help you take action. Ex.: “Finishing this assignment will give me extra time to hang out with my friends.”
Negative Motivation - Focusing on the consequences that may follow if your task is not completed. Ex.: “If I do not finish this assignment, I will fail my course.”
Both positive and negative motivations can be effective in different circumstances. However, it is much easier to do something because you actually want to, rather than because you want to avoid a particular outcome if you do not do it. Sometimes, negative motivations can stress you out even more and even reduce your motivation. Therefore, it is always better to use positive motivations in order to motivate yourself.
Steps to Stay Motivated:
1. Set realistic goals - While setting goals you need to make sure that you are creating goals that you can actually achieve. In order to do this you can use the S.M.A.R.T. method. S.M.A.R.T. stands for:
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Achievable
R - Realistic
T - Time-based
Using this template can help create a realistic plan that is easy for you to follow and also gives you motivation to effectively complete your tasks.
2. Have a support system - Telling your family or friends about your goals can help you find motivation to achieve them. You can use your friends and family to By doing this, you have made a commitment or a promise and have to complete it.
3. Recognize your roadblocks - Oftentimes, we lose our motivation to do things due to roadblocks. Finding roadblocks and finding ways to overcome these roadblocks can help you gain motivation to complete your tasks. This roadblock can be a lack of skill in a certain area or a quality you may not realize may be holding you back. It is important to reflect on yourself and analyze your work in order to find ways to improve on your habits.
4. Be nice to yourself - Take care of your health and see yourself in a positive light. Remember that everybody makes mistakes. If you ever procrastinate or feel completely unmotivated, try not to go too hard on yourself. Practice positive self talk and manifest positive thoughts to gain motivation.
5. Celebrate the small and big victories - If you complete a goal, whether it’s big or small, it is an achievement! So be sure to take a break and reward yourself whenever you finish a task. For example, you can maybe get your favorite treat or go out with your friends.
These 5 steps can help you get motivated and finish tasks that you haven’t been able to finish. Plan properly and don’t overwhelm yourself. Remember, you got this!
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Jyothika Arunkumar (she/her)
Bentonville, AR
Haas Hall Academy Bentonville
@jarunkumar_22