Motivation is often sought when there is a gap between where a person currently is and where they need to be. There are moments when motivation feels like a distant star; just beyond our reach but flickering faintly in the sky. On days like that, the simplest actions I do often kick off the ripple effect that brings motivation rushing back.
Step One
The first thing I do is get up! The mere act of rising from the comfort of my bed or stepping out of my cozy bubble goes a very long way in my pursuit of motivation.
When I'm wrapped in the warm embrace of comfort, whether it's my soft bed, the lure of a movie or some other comforting distraction, I tend to stay stuck. In these moments, it's easy to ignore the gentle nudge of the voice in my head telling me that I have things to do. But the truth is, breaking free from my comfort zone by simply getting up is a very powerful step.
Step Two
Step two in my journey to motivation is to immerse myself in activities I enjoy, those that clear my mind and reset my focus. It may sound eccentric but my motivation doesn't just come rushing in once I'm up and out of my comfort zone. This is why I engage in activities like decluttering or cleaning up spaces at home out of sheer freewill.
I do not know the psychology behind this particular step but whenever I take this step, it feels like I'm also clearing up mental space and only then does the motivation start to creep in. Diving into these simple, satisfying actions helps me regain a sense of control and achievement.
Step Three
The third and perhaps most crucial step is breaking down the tasks that feel very big into smaller pieces. Big projects/tasks can feel very overwhelming, making motivation seem like an impossible luxury. But, by dividing the tasks into smaller chunks(something I'm surprisingly very good at) and focusing on one piece at a time, everything becomes more bearable.
The trick is usually to start with the easiest part and once I get that ball rolling, motivation comes in a greater momentum. Progress builds up in progress and before I know it, I'm moving steadily forward. The fact that I do not like leaving tasks unfinished is yet another fuel that maintains my motivation.
Together, these three steps form a simple but effective blueprint for finding motivation on days when it feels far from reach. I'm not sure how other people go about it, but finding motivation isn't a sudden affair, rather it's a gradual process, one that I nurture by making intentional choices and steady actions. This is why I always try not to find myself in such a fix in the first place but on days when it seems inevitable, I either allow the lack of motivation to win(sometimes :) or I do something about it (other times :).
This post is in response to the #iucontest which cane be found here. Images belong to me, except stated otherwise.