Do you ever feel like your life consists of going through the motions? Do you find yourself wondering where the excitement has gone? If so, you aren’t alone. Millions of people feel like they’re trudging through monotony with no end in sight. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
5 Ways to Find Motivation
Have you ever wondered why you want to do something, or what it is that causes people to go through extraordinary pain, discomfort, or personal investment just to achieve a particular outcome? At the heart of this issue is motivation.
Motivation is the reason for people’s actions, goals, and willingness to pursue these goals. It’s derived from the root word “motive,” which can be defined as a need requiring satisfaction.
We can all recall times and experiences where someone was totally motivated to achieve a particular goal. An NFL quarterback trying to come back in the fourth quarter to win a Super Bowl; a scrappy entrepreneur pitching her idea to a billionaire investor; a poor beggar on the streets trying get enough change to feed his family – there are examples of motivation all around. But for most of us, we seem to meander through our lives without much motivation – at least not in the small things.
Motivation can seem elusive, but we all have that spark at our core. Here are some ways you can turn that spark back into a flame:
1. Identify When Motivation Slips
“If your motivation is slipping, notice when this starts to happen and what events are happening that could drive it,” attorney Maureen Metcalf suggests. “If you are not sufficiently challenged, you may find ways to take on more responsibility or learn a new skill. Learning is often a great antidote to boredom, and it could prepare you for the next more challenging role.”
You’ll find that you’re more prone to boredom when you’re in certain environments or surrounded by particular people. As you become more aware of this, you can put yourself in situations where you’re more likely to thrive.
2. Keep a Thankfulness Journal
Some people find that thankfulness and motivation are directly connected. When they’re aware of what they’re thankful for, it drives them in specific areas of their lives – such as work, education, or family. Considering this, you may find value in keeping a thankfulness journal where you regularly list off people, events, possessions, and blessings that you’re grateful to have.
3. Design an Accomplishment Book
Similarly, creative people may do well to design an accomplishment book with images of past work, accomplishments, and victories – not as a way of dwelling on the past, but as a form of encouragement.
An accomplishment book can be as informal or formal as you’d like. It might be a simple scrapbook you keep at your desk, or it could be a professionally printed booklet that you keep by your bed. Decide what works best for you and give it a try.
4. Remind Yourself Why
Motivation is always tied back to something else. If you find yourself lacking in motivation, it could be that you’re out of touch with why you’re doing something. This is often true with work-related tasks.
Spend some time reflecting on the purpose of your actions, and you may find that this reinvigorates how you approach even the most practical and mundane tasks.
5. Get Out of the House
Nothing is a motivation killer quite like boredom. And you’re most prone to boredom when you’re stuck in the same environment. If your life consists of going to work, coming home, watching Netflix, and going to sleep, you shouldn’t be surprised that you’re unmotivated.
Make it a point to get out of the house and try new things – even when you don’t want to. Stretching yourself will expose you to new ideas, activities, and people, which will either strike up new motivation or rekindle things you had forgotten about.
Infuse Your Life With Meaning and Purpose
It’s time to stop aimlessly wandering through a life characterized by boredom. Motivation doesn’t have to be something that comes and goes – it can be a constant in your life. Don’t settle for anything less.