27 Clever and Easy Ideas to Inspire Yourself
“Be unhappy. Or motivate yourself. Whatever needs to be done, it’s always your choice.”
Wayne Dyer
“People frequently argue that motivation doesn’t last. Likewise, neither does bathing — that’s why we suggest it daily.”
Zig Ziglar
“I was thinking one day and I realized that if I only had someone behind me all the way to push me I could make a significant impact. Nobody came along like that so I simply became that person for myself.”
Unknown
Some days you wake up energized and ready to go. And other days things seem heavy when you wake and it is hard to start moving and find that inner drive.
At least in my experience.
So over the last 10+ years I have identified several easy and clever tactics that work for me to get back into the correct rhythm and to get things done.
Here are 27 of my favorite techniques and practices for accomplishing precisely that.
1. Simply get started and let the motivation catch up with you.
You don’t have to wait for inspiration to get started. If you want to work in a consistent manner every day then sometimes you simply have to get going anyhow.
And the odd thing is that once I have worked for a bit things seem simpler and easier and more enjoyable and the motivation catches up with me.
2. Start small if huge drives you to procrastinate.
Whenever a job or activity seems too vast and frightening don’t let that drive you into procrastination.
Instead, break it down into little stages – like merely putting up your blog or cleaning for 5 minutes – and then do just one of them to start moving ahead.
3. Start little if a modest step still drives you to procrastination.
If breaking things down and taking a little step still drives you to procrastinate then go even smaller. Take just a little 1-2 minute move ahead. That’s it.
Because the most essential thing is to simply begin rolling and to generate momentum ahead.
4. Minimize the everyday distractions.
When you have conveniently available distractions all around you then it gets hard to concentrate.
So close the door to your workplace. Place your smart phone in quiet mode at the opposite end of your work area or house. Then use an extension for your browser like StayFocusd to keep yourself on track.
5. Seek accountability from the people in your life.
Inform your pals what you will do on social media, by phone or in real life. Ask one or more of them to routinely check up on you and your progress.
By doing this you’ll be a lot less inclined to attempt to wiggle out of things or quit up at the first difficulty.
6. Gain encouragement from the people in your life.
Spend less time with negative folks who constantly look at the bad or apathetic side of things.
And spend more of the time you have now freed up with excited or driven individuals and allow their energy flow over to you.
7. Obtain the encouragement from individuals you don’t know.
Don’t restrict yourself to only the inspiration you can receive from the individuals around you.
There is a ton of inspirational quotations, books, podcasts, blogs and success stories out there that you may tap into to boost or rejuvenate your motivation.
8. Play music that gives you energy.
One of the easiest things I do when I feel low in energy or drive is to play music that is uplifting and/or motivates me in some manner.
A break with a few songs or working while listening to them for a time typically works nicely.
9. Discover the positivity.
Pessimism may deplete both your drive and vitality.
Yet the positive and constructive way of looking at things might on the other hand revitalize and renew your motivation.
So when you're in what appears like a horrible scenario ask yourself questions like:
What’s one thing that’s excellent about this? And what’s one hidden potential here?
10. Be nice to yourself when you stumble.
It’s so easy to slip into the trap of bashing yourself when you stumble or fail.
But those don’t work that well in my experience. You simply feel worse and less motivated.
So try this the next time: be gentle to yourself, pull yourself back on the road you were on and take one tiny step ahead.
11. Be helpful about the shortcomings.
To make your setbacks more useful and less damaging be constructive about them. When you stumble question yourself:
What is one thing I can learn from this setback?
Then keep that lesson in mind and take action on it to better what you do.
12. Compare yourself to yourself and observe how far you have come.
Instead of depressing yourself and your drive by comparing yourself to people who are so far ahead of you.
13. Compete in a nice manner.
While you’re at school or at work make it a friendly competition with a buddy to for example accomplish a dull or regular activity first. Just that aspect of rivalry tends to spice things up.
And if you want to you may even add a tiny incentive for added motivation, like the winner receiving a free ice cream or a drink from the other person.
14. Remind yourself of why you are striving for this.
When you’re feeling uninspired and low in energy it's easy to lose sight of why you’re doing something.
Just spend 2 minutes and jot out your top 3 reasons for completing this job, obtaining an education, working out, saving that additional money or anything else.
Place the note where you can see it every day or keep it on your smartphone for quick access when you need a motivating boost.
15. Remind yourself of what you're going away from.
You may also push yourself to begin moving again by looking at the negative consequences of remaining on your present course.
Ask yourself:
What would the implications be if I stay on this route for 1 more year? And suppose I do if for 5 more years?
I have discovered that this practice has given me the kick-start I needed many times in the last years.
16. Be appreciative for what you received.
When motivation is running low then it’s simple to start viewing your life and the parts of it through a negative lens.
To concentrate your emphasis on what you still have and who you are – and to recharge with enthusiasm and motivation – ask yourself a question like:
What are 3 things I often take for granted but may be thankful for in my life?
My replies would, for example, be a roof over my head, clean water and not having to go hungry.
17. Change things up.
A rut will destroy motivation. So switch things up. Create a competition out of a task with yourself or with someone else.
When you work out diversify what you do instead of going through the motions. Listen to music and podcasts that you generally don’t listen to.
Fresh input and diversity appears to be an excellent strategy to keep the motivation up (or to replenish it) (or to recharge it).
18. Declutter your workplace.
Spend a few of minutes to tidy things up.
I believe that having a clean and basic desk helps me to think more clearly and I feel more focused and ready to tackle the next job (or tiny step) (or small step).
19. Minimize your to-do list to just one item.
An over-stuffed to-do list may be a true motivation killer.
So try reducing your present to-do list to just one item. The one that’s most essential to you right now or possibly the one you've been delaying on for much too long.
Then get started by taking a huge, modest or microscopic step.
Then have another list stashed away someplace where you can’t see it with more things to perform later on.
20. Don’t forget about the breaks.
Few things may in my experience diminish the daily motivation like merely working non-stop.
Instead, work for 45 minutes each hour and utilize the rest for a break when you take a snack, walk out for some fresh air or do a little of stretching.
You’ll – maybe somewhat counter-intuitively – get more done in a day and week and produce work of greater quality since your energy, attention and drive will simply last longer.
21. Modify your desired size.
Whenever a huge goal in your life becomes overwhelming create a smaller goal to rediscover your drive again.
And if a lesser goal doesn’t seem inspirational attempt to aim higher and make it larger objective and watch how it changes your desire.
22. Exercise.
Working out doesn’t simply effect your physique. I find that simply 20-30 minutes of lifting free weights eliminates inner tensions and stress and helps me feel more focused once again.
23. Spend 2 minutes to look back at your triumphs.
Shut your eyes and allow the memories of your greatest triumphs – no matter in what section of your life – wash over you. Let those most good recollections increase your motivation.
24. Praise yourself and appreciate your victories.
If you’re looking forward to a great reward that you’re receiving yourself when you’re done with a work or a project then your motivation tends to increase higher.
If you celebrate a victory in some other manner by for example by spending 1 minute to appreciate what you achieved or by informing someone about your achievement then it also generally recharges motivation and optimism.
So dangle those carrots and rejoice to keep your motivation up.
25. Conduct a little of study before you get started.
Learning from others who have gone where you want to go and done what you want to accomplish may enable you to avoid mistakes. And to provide you a realistic time-table for success.
This is vital to not feel demotivated when things aren’t occurring as quickly you had wanted.
26. Take a 2 minute meditation break.
When my mind gets a little fatigued or maybe even overwhelmed my energy and motivation goes down. So in the afternoons – or when required – I like to sit down with closed eyes and simply concentrate on my breathing for 2 minutes.
This clears my thoughts and relaxes inner anxieties.
27. Go out in nature.
Few things offer me as much fresh energy and determination to take on life as this does.
So I frequently go out for a stroll in the woods or by the water and I'm simply there in the moment with the environment, the fresh air and I don't think about anything particular.
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