With everything happening in the world at the moment, it’s important to stay motivated and positive, despite everything you might be facing. And that includes the good and the bad. How many times have you read a self-help book, watch a TED Talk, or tried to start a new habit but given up only a few days later?

Why? Why do we get inspired and motivated with all of these grand ideas, but nothing happens?

When I’m feeling a lack of motivation and energy, I ask myself these three questions:

  • What do I want from today?
  • What have I done that will get close to what I want?
  • What can I do right now, to move me closer to achieving my goals?

And it might take me a while to give an honest answer to each of these questions. But I find it’s a great way to start moving the needle forwards, to where I want to be.

And after asking myself those three questions, there are a few more things that I can do to stay motivated toward my goals.

Set aside time for myself every day

Set aside some time for myself every day. I’m not calling it self-care, but essentially that’s what it is. Something that I want to do. And something that is just for me. Sometimes that means reading before bed, Sometimes that means full-body moisturising after a shower. It might even be taking a dip in the cold ocean.

Reflect on the day

I like to reflect on the day at dinner as a family. My daughter has even picked up on it and will often prompt my husband and me. Saying so what did you do today dad?

Use visualisation

This is not some woo-woo stuff, but it actually works. Take a few minutes each day to visualise the results of your success.

Some great times to do this are:

  • when you brush your teeth
  • when you go to the toilet
  • while you are making your coffee
  • before you go to sleep

If you are still on the fence about whether visualisation actually works, have a read of the article about a visualisation study done by Dr. Blaslotto at the University of Chicago in 1996.

Be around positive people

Surround yourself with like-minded and positive people. Just like someone’s bad mood can rub off on you, a good and positive attitude can too.

Help others

There is something about helping others with their goals that just puts a spring in my step. And helping others achieve something provides me with some motivation to dive back into my goals when I lack a bit of motivation.

Minimise distractions

Sometimes I feel like my whole life is one big distraction. And it doesn’t help that my computer is in our lounge room. Did I mention that my daughter is TV obsessed? That makes it really hard to get things done. But there are a few things I can do to minimise distractions.

It can be so easy to get distracted, especially on a computer. I have all the apps from my phone at my fingers tips on a desktop too. But I remind myself that

Reward yourself

Add rewards into your everyday life. Sometimes the reward is when your partner notices that you cleaned the house. I try to avoid using food as a reward, but I do have some snack-size chocolates on hand. Even allowing myself some time to mindlessly scroll through Instagram.

Practice positive self talk

Rewarding yourself doesn’t always have to cost money or take up too much of your time. Tell yourself that you’ve done a great job. Tell yourself that you’re awesome. And tell yourself that you are proud of everything you have accomplished.

If you’re having trouble practicing positive self talk, ask your friends and family. Ask them what they like about you, what makes them proud of you and what they think is your greatest achievement.

Know yourself better

Knowing yourself a little better can help you when it comes to getting motivated. And knowing how you work best is often the key. Ask yourself these questions to help you stay on task.

  • are you a morning or evening person?
  • do you like to do short bursts or maintain focus for long periods of time?
  • are you motivated by support, accountability or competition?
  • what people and activities energise you?
  • should you set new goals in the new year, on your birthday or any other time of year?

Remember your why

Remind yourself why you are doing this in the first place. It’s the reason you get out of bed in the morning. It’s the reason you do all of the things that you do. And it’s the reason why you have what you have.

Staying motivated is hard work. It can be challenging to remember why we do what we do. And sometimes we might feel like we aren’t getting anywhere, or not making a difference. but use these tips to help you stay motivated and work towards your goals.