Society has ingrained in our brains that we aren’t successful if we aren’t busy. I have been working hard over the past few years to reverse this thought process and find the balance between work and play, rest and productivity, busyness, and finding time for stillness. We may find it hard to keep our motivation up when we constantly move. The reality is that the things that hold more “weight” in our memories are those fun, unique moments and experiences rather than how much we worked, earned, and achieved.
To help you find some balance, here are some tips for keeping motivation coming despite the ever-flowing current of life.
1. Get outside
When I feel my motivation die down, it always helps to go outside and take nature in. Leave your cell phone behind if you can. Allow yourself to feel the sunshine on your face, listen to the birds in the trees, and take notice of the small wonders surrounding you, such as the beautiful flowers and trees. On her podcast, Mel Robbins often reminds us that if we can do this first thing in the morning, we are more likely to be successful and productive during the day.
2. Find a pump-up jam
For me, music is pivotal to mood and motivation. Certain songs instantaneously help me get rid of any heaviness. I start tapping my foot and sometimes even dance (trust me, it’s not pretty, but it’s fun!). Some artists for lighthearted feel-good jam sessions are Andy Grammer and Olly Murrs as well as the Hairspray (with Nikki Blonsky and John Travolta) soundtrack.
3. Make a list
As cushy as it sounds, creating a to-do list and watching yourself cross different items off can give a sense of satisfaction. At work, I always encourage my direct reports to break their to-do lists into three sections: must get done, should get done, and would be nice if it got done. These categories help prioritize importance and keep you focused.
4. Move!
Are you hitting a mid-day slump or finding yourself becoming easily distracted? Take a walk, even if it’s just around your office while you’re on a phone call. Waking up your muscles can automatically wake your brain up.
5. Get organized
Spending a lot of time in a cluttered and unclean space can stress you even more. Gift yourself the ability to have a clean workspace so you’re not inadvertently adding things to your list.
6. Take a cold shower
According to the Wim Hof method, a cold shower can increase immunity, reduce stress levels, and create a higher sense of alertness. Taking a cold shower can be hard to muster the courage for, but even turning the water cold for the last few minutes can be beneficial.
7. Create a vision board
When you have things to look forward to and long-term goals, it can help the mundane day-to-day tasks seem all the more worth it. Creating a vision board, whether digitally on Pinterest or Instagram or an old-school one with magazine cut-outs and displaying it somewhere visible, can help with motivation.
We hope these tips help you stay motivated and find the work/life balance we all desire. Do you have any advice for jumpstarting your motivation when it dwindles? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured image via Zois Fotis on Pexels
