Finding the Motivation Behind Motivating Yourself

 

A question I’ve been constantly asking myself these days is “how do I find the motivation to even stay motivated?”. Every day I wake up with a list of to-do’s, and somehow I always end up sleeping the day away or watching a series of some useless videos. The cycle of making to-do lists, not completing them by doing something else totally unproductive and finally mild self-loathing over how I have somehow failed myself gets tiring real quick I tell ya. And to even want to break out of this cycle has been challenging the past few weeks—or since school ended and summer began.

Needing to stay focused on what I need to do, deadlines to meet and keeping myself sane is an acrobatic act I have not yet mastered. I promised myself that I would sit down today and think of things that could help me motivate myself to stay motivated and get things done!! I have been better this week than last on being on top of my game and I credit it all to adding a few keys things to my daily life.

 

1.Working-Out / Exercise

Yes yes yes….I know what you all are thinking—if I am having trouble motivating myself as is, how do I motivate myself to go to the gym? But honestly, it DOES help! I always dread Alex coming home from work to drag me to the gym, but after a good workout sesh, I always feel refreshed and ready to WORK! Being able to get my body to move and to push it beyond what it’s capable of reminds me that I can push myself and it really helps me motivate myself outside of the gym. And to put the cherry on top of the cake as the saying goes, you walk away being healthier and even more fit!!

2. Meditation / Yoga / Breathing Exercises

Falling in line with exercising, I think taking the time to unwind slowly is super important, too. So often, I am ready to do work and suddenly my brain tells me I can’t or I begin to get super overwhelmed. I’ve started doing yoga once a week at Bryant Park on Thursdays since last summer since it was free and I fell in love with it. As much as I love to joke during the sessions, I always walk away so relaxed and stretched. And even when I am home alone, I like to practice my own breathing techniques—there is no one way to do it, I feel like it is all personal preference. For me, personally, I just like to concentrate and count my breaths.

3. Making a To-Do List

While most of my to-do lists for the day gets passed onto the next day or even completely thrown out the window, I do think that having a sense of what needs to be done can be helpful to stay motivated. Because I have been trying to study for the LSATs on my own, I found it necessary to make a day-by-day to-do list on what I should be studying for the day and also on other tasks in my life. Personally, to-do lists give me a sense of structure. It doesn’t need to be complicated or anything, just a glimpse into a type of schedule!

4. Reward System / Me-Time

And while not all of my days are jammed packed and most often than not, I am bored out of my mind after studying for so long, I find “me time” to be so important. Yes, I am spending most of my day alone to myself, but what I mean by “me time” is taking the time to do something that I really enjoy. It could be going to Central Park with a book but ending up people-watching or doing my nails or watching something on TV. I’ve realized that the key behind motivating myself is rewarding myself with something else that I truly enjoy doing. But the danger here is always rewarding myself and not getting back on track…so the fine line here needs to be controlled by only ME and MYSELF wanting to stay on track.

5. Change of Location

Working in one place at the same location each day can chips away at anyone’s sense of motivation and creativity. After moving into my new apartment, I found myself constantly sitting in one place every day (at my dining table and in the same seat). It got tiring and I decided to begin to sit at my other desk or even going to a coffee shop or a public library. A change of scenery can do a lot in terms of changing up the pace of things, getting fresh air outside of the home or even a new sense of determination!

 

 

These are my five top motivation techniques that I have personally been putting to the use. I didn’t place them in any particular order or important because I honestly think that a balance of all five of these things make motivating myself easier. There are days that even putting all these things to use will result in absolutely nothing, but have faith in yourself!! Know that you are capable of doing anything you put your mind to!!

Until my next lil’ thought then!

Jen