How to Get and Stay Motivated

What is procrastination? It is the avoidance of action- Commit
towards the start of or completion of a task and/or- Follow through
project. The reason that you procrastinate is notIn order for you to be motivated you will need to be
important, because it has become habitual and anmentally prepared. The night before, go to bed and
automatic response for you.tell yourself that you need to complete a, b, and c.
What is motivation? It is the focus or energyThen when you wake up, tell yourself that you are
necessary to create action towards goal completion!going to complete a, b, and c. Now, your
Being motivated is essential for you to not only start,commitment is key! You need to tell yourself, that
but to complete projects. This is where the reasonyou will not participate in a preferred activity until a,
becomes important! The reason a project needsb, and c is accomplished. You need to focus and
completed, will help you to prioritize your to do listforce yourself to commit to this, by promising you
and once prioritized you can implement this quickwill follow through and realizing you will be too guilty
easy motivational technique.to enjoy your preferred activity if not followed
Prioritize:through with. Now, following through means that you
- Deadlineremain conscious of the entire process. You will need
- Detailsto coach and coax yourself through the experience.
- Time and energyTell yourself, "Okay, lets get too it!" and "Alright, one
In order to properly prioritize your projects you willdown, two to go!" or "No, I promised I would paint
need to have a deadline, understand how much timethe shed before going golfing and I'm following
and energy it will take to complete the project, asthrough!" This type of mental commitment and
well as understand the details of the project. Theencouragement will ensure you follow through! Once
deadline is key, because if it's due in a few days andcompleted you will enjoy your preferred activity
another project is due in a month then the projectmore and feel good about accomplishing what you
due in a few days needs taken care of first. Theset out to.
details of the project are important, because they willHelpful hints:
determine the amount of time and energy related to- Start small
completing the project. If the project due in a month- Remain flexible
is going to take a lot of your time and energy toSince this will be new for you, I suggest you start
complete, then the project due in a month may needsmall and build up to larger tasks. You may want to
to be dealt with while completing or immediatelybreak a task into smaller steps, then rewarding
after completing the first project.yourself with a preferred activity and then back to
Even if the task or project doesn't have a deadline,the task, until completion. By using this method on
give it one! Tell other people about the deadline, likethe smaller tasks or in smaller steps, you will be
your friends, family, or significant others; "You knowpracticing the process as it becomes easier. You will
what honey?" "I am going to paint the shed by thewant to remain flexible, so that you continue to
end of next week." If it already has an externalprioritize based on what is happening in the present
deadline, then make a personal one that is a day ormoment. You also want to remain flexible and open
two before! This will give you time to complete theto the fact that this is new to you, allowing for
process and review it, as well as enjoy the fact thatthings to not always go as planned, learning each
you met your personal deadline.time and implementing this knowledge into future
Get motivated:experiences.
- Prepare yourself