You Can Create Your Dream Life Once You Believe In Yourself And Show Up Everyday To Do The Work
20. Keep Your “Personal” Gas Tank Full – What happens if you drive around all day without every stopping for gas? In the same way, you eventually will run out of fuel if you don’t give yourself the revitalization you need to keep going. Schedule breaks at regular intervals to have a leisurely cup of coffee or tea, take a brisk walk outside, or call or text a friend to check in on how they are doing. You will return to your work refreshed and re-energized.
21. Optimize Your Working Environment – A great working environment is defined by three things: It’s a place where you can be proud of what you do; It’s a place where you enjoy who you work with; And it’s a place where you trust the people you work for. If any of these three elements are missing from your work, it’s going to be harder for you to achieve your goals and it may be time to consider making a change.
22. Fake It ‘Til You Make It – If you don’t always feel motivated, act as if you are motivated and you can create the desired feeling. Once you’ve gotten the ball rolling, you will find yourself genuinely engaged in your work.
23. Be a Doer Not a Thinker – It’s easy to overthink a problem and lose your momentum or inertia. This process, sometimes referred to as “paralysis by analysis”, can be dangerous because it can sidetrack you from your objectives. Be a person of action and don’t be afraid to make decisions. Mistakes are going to be made, but you can learn from these mistakes so that you can do a better job next time. The only way not to succeed is to not act. Indecision leads to disaster every time.
24. Enter into a Contract with Yourself – A contract is a legally binding document that sets a defined set of requirements on both parties. Enter into a contract with yourself that requires you to achieve your objectives within a set period of time. Write an actual contract, sign it, date it and put it somewhere safe. The knowledge that such a binding contract exists can help keep you motivated toward achieving your goals.
25. When You Get Stuck, Aim for Small Victories – You can keep your forward momentum going even when you get stuck on a problem by targeting tiny triumphs. Accomplishing quick, easy goals generates positive feelings that you can use to keep you moving past obstacles and toward your ultimate objective. You will be inspired to keep repeating that satisfying experience of crossing yet another task off your list.
26. Rewards Matter – Psychology tells us that humans respond most productively when there is the promise of a reward at the end of a given task. Create rewards for yourself for achieving your short-term objectives. They don’t have to be grand, expensive prizes. Find affordable healthy rewards you will appreciate. When you know there is a tangible reward at the end of your day, it’s often enough to keep you going even when you don’t want to.
27. Visualize the Payoff – Visualization exercises help create the proper mindset for success. Take the time to focus on what your life will be like once you achieve your objective. How will you feel? What will other people think about you? Will there be physical, emotional and psychological rewards for reaching your goal? Put yourself in that picture and it can keep you inspired as you work toward achieving your ultimate objective.
28. De-Complicate Complicated Tasks – If there is a particularly complicated task lying ahead of you, it can seem overwhelming and unachievable. But if you break that task into a series of simple, uncomplicated steps, you can remove the stress and focus on achieving only the next simple task in front of you. As you move through each simple task, it will motivate you to keep going.
29. Use Positive Self-Reinforcement – Have you ever noticed that an employee or co-worker will work harder after they’ve been recognized for doing a good job with a pat on the back or some sort of public recognition. Use that same type of positive reinforcement to motivate yourself. Recognize when you’ve done something extraordinary and take pride in your work. It will make you more likely to work even harder next time.
