8 Ways To Ensure Lasting Motivation
by Peter Murphy
If you are not as productive as you'd like or tend to
procrastinate, you can become motivated by changing your
personal style.
The trick lies in making the activities you put off more
interesting, easier, and less unpleasant. One way to make
a job easier is to break it into smaller jobs. If your
task is to file your income tax return, you may view it as
time consuming and tedious.
But if you break it into smaller categories such as gather
records, download tax software, and prepare a rough draft,
the tasks don't seem as difficult and you are likely to
complete them in considerably less time.
Some other ways to make those undesirable jobs seem more
bearable are to prioritize, use self-discipline, and reward
yourself for small accomplishments.
Try to do the least desirable tasks early in the day so
you'll look forward to having the rest of the day to
concentrate on more pleasant jobs.
Keep in mind that self-discipline is something you do for
yourself, not to punish yourself. Make a schedule and
stick to it.
Don't forget to reward yourself for each step you take in
overcoming procrastination. Positive reinforcement goes a
long way in changing negative behaviors.
Here are eight great suggestions as to how you can get
motivated and quit procrastinating:
1. Tasks will seem less daunting if you break them into
several steps over a few days or weeks. Don't expect
yourself to do everything all at once.
2. Don't worry about doing the job perfectly. Once you
quit procrastinating, you'll have more time to go back and
perfect each particular task. Allowing yourself adequate
time to finish a task will give you more time for
corrections later.
3. Find a supportive co-worker or friend to help motivate
you to get moving. Two minds really are better than one.
4. Don't schedule important tasks at a time of day when
your energy is low. Put the most difficult tasks at the
top of your list and work from there.
5. Reward yourself for reaching critical points in your
least favorite jobs. Having something to look forward to
is a great motivator.
6. All times of day are not equal. Reserve your most
demanding activities for the time when your energy is at
its highest. Save the small jobs that require little
thought for the time of day when you are at your lowest
productivity level.
Accomplish your tasks efficiently and you will see an
improvement in your time management and motivational skills.
7. Start yourself down the road to success by setting
clear, attainable goals. Break tasks into smaller pieces
so they will seem less difficult. Get organized and
prioritize your activities from most important to least
important. Eliminating the harder tasks will leave you
feeling good about your work and motivate you to continue.
8. Keep focused on the end result instead of concentrating
on how hard it will be to break your old habits. Having a
light at the end of the tunnel will make your efforts seem
worthwhile and the reward waiting for you will keep you
motivated to achieve your goals.
Procrastination is unproductive and can even be harmful to
your well being if allowed to get out of control. Stop
making excuses, organize your thoughts and tasks, and be on
your way to get your life under control and get motivated!
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert.
He recently produced a very popular free report that
reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting
motivation. Apply now because it is available for a limited
time only at:
http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm
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