Tips for Staying Motivated

By Randi Morse

One thing that I've struggled with my whole life is finding motivation. When it comes to doing things I enjoy, like playing games with my family or reading, I have all the motivation in the world. When it comes to fulfilling my responsibilities, however, I can be easily distracted. It's frustrating, especially when I want to be productive. The good news is that I've learned a number of tricks to help me learn how to be less distracted and more productive that work really well.

Set a Goal

Setting a realistic goal helps you to see the finish line. If you don't set a goal it may seem like you're not getting anywhere, which can cause you to avoid even attempting to work because it feels like the mountain you're climbing never stops. Break down the work that you have to accomplish for the day. For example, if you are trying to clean your kitchen, break it down into sections. Cleaning the fridge and stove is one goal, sweeping and mopping the floor is another. Between each goal, take a little break to celebrate your accomplishment.

Write It Down

There is nothing, and I mean almost nothing, more satisfying than crossing off the goals you've written down. When you cross off the tasks that you've written down you are giving yourself a little reward, similar to how you might use stickers to encourage children to do their chores. As you go down the list and continue to cross things off, you will get a little boost from seeing all that you've done. This visual representation of all that you've completed can give you a feeling of accomplishment, which encourages you to enjoy that feeling again.

Pomodoro Technique

When I'm trying to get work done, like writing articles, I employ the Pomodoro Technique. This is a very simple technique that is extremely efficient and helpful. Put a timer on for 25 minutes, and during those 25 minutes resign yourself to stay wholly focused on the task at hand. Once the timer goes off, set another timer for five minutes. Those five minutes are the time when you're allowed to relax, check social media, or get lost for a bit on a shopping website. Once the five minutes is up, set the timer for another 25 minutes. These chunks of 25 minutes are called pomodoros. Once you've completed four pomodoros, give yourself 20 minutes to relax. It's much easier to focus when you're only required to do it 25 minutes at a time.

There are all sorts of tricks and tips you can use to learn how to motivate yourself and focus on your work. Remember that once you use these methods, you may need to employ them for quite some time, as it can take a few weeks to break the bad habits you've learned.

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