Today is all about motivation! Are you motivated to learn about motivation?
The key for motivation, as I have learned over the years, is different for everyone. We all have these desires to become more motivated, whether it’s to get healthier, write a book, or start a new practice.
Motivation is defined as:
- A reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way
- A desire or willingness to do something; enthusiasm
What makes us feel unmotivated?
When we feel unmotivated, we often feel stuck. I think they have to do with basic Newton’s Law — things at rest want to stay at rest. Before the days of handheld electronics, this would happen when sitting down to watch TV, where now we can lose two hours by scrolling on our phones.
Change of seasons can also affect our level of motivation, for better or for worse. When it’s cold outside, we tend to have a desire to stay indoors. Changing locations, schedules, and jobs can also really affect us as well.
What are the ways to start getting motivated?
Motivation is a muscle! It has to be worked.
- Start small by setting accomplishable goals.
- Write it down! Putting pen to paper helps you wire your goals into your brain.
- Make yourself accountable by sharing your goals with a friend, a partner, or family member.
- Visualize the results of your goal.
How do we get there?
People ask me all the time how do I stay motivated in my movement practice when I’m feeling lethargic, so I’m going to base my example off of movement, but this can be applied to anything.
To set yourself up for success, you have to develop a routine.
You really need to keep in mind why you are setting the goals that you have, because if they are not your goals, you won’t feel as connected to creating the routine necessary to achieve them.
Where will I find the time?
This is why creating a routine/schedule is so important, because you can see where you have time and what kind of time you have for these goals. If you don’t have an hour, see where you can find just ten minutes.
“It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
