When was the last time your body and mind became so quiet and withdrawn from the surrounding circumstances that you felt you just couldn’t carry on any longer? Honestly, for me it happens every time I hit what we call ‘writer’s block’.
In my understanding, motivation is something we draw from within, something which aids us in completing a task we thought was impossible. It’s our inner force or strength which we call on when we are at a loss for self-backing. It is the primary thing which instills faith in us and says, “Don’t worry buddy. You’re doing well, just keep at it.”
Here are some ways we can hack our motivation:
1. Train your mind
When I say ‘train your mind’, I’m not referring to going to classes to try to get your mind to only do that which you want it to at a particular time, No! If we do that we are removing the naturalness within us as humans – we are, in a way, becoming robotic in nature.
What I mean is that we need to be practical in our mindset and believe in what we do, irrespective of whatever comes our way. In this way, we understand that what we have undertaken needs to be completed.
2. Look at the positives at all times
Every situation has its own pros and cons. Many a time we are unable to move ahead as we are too focused on looking at the tough parts and difficulties in the endeavor we have undertaken and we forget there are always two sides of a coin. Flip it and unlock the necessary fuel for your journey ahead.
3. Be prepared for adversities
The reason many of us are taken aback when faced with extremes is that we haven’t prepared for the worst. Personally for me, after starting my business and now over a year into it, I’ve come to a mindset that when we pitch or undertake any work, and things a little topsy-turvy, there is just one thing I tell all my colleagues, “What is the worst that could happen?”
Before when we were four months into the company, when an issue occurred I used to think this…but now even when starting out a deal, we take the ‘worst case scenario’ into consideration. You call it realization or fate of degradation of human beings, we have to be prepared. What happens when do this? Nothing seems to big and insurmountable as we have taken the extremes into consideration.
4. Acceptance of Everything
Part of our problem is that we don’t accept our circumstances and we try and fight back reality. Per contra, if we accept our current situation then what happens is we are able to analyze where we are and what we want to achieve, even the ‘how to achieve’ is answered when acceptance backed by will power is there to act as appropriately and see the task to completion.
5. Visualize
When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Truly speaking if we do not have a fixed aim/goal in front of us, with what are we going to draw out the motivation?
And for what?
So primarily, visualize the end/destination where you need to reach, visualize yourself doing what you’ve always dreamt of doing and ‘Voila’ before you know it we will be inching towards our destination. Our thirst for the goal, our visualized spectacle of reaching the finish line, will bring about a change in the attitude and we will complete what we started.
6. Start Afresh
Many a time, when we are for example working on a very specific painting which we feel should be our master piece, we literally are occupied by it 24×7. This preoccupation tends to turn very subtly and suddenly into an obsession with a very narrow minded and closed approach.
This the eats into our attitude and we feel that there is no way, we are going to create the intended master piece. In such instances, all we need to do is take a step back, relax, inhale and exhale deeply and take a break. Start off on the same thing, the next day or the day after – go out, we never know where we can get inspiration from and a new zeal to work on our painting or given assignment.
7. Keep Constantly Learning
Try to constantly learn all you can on the project you are undertaking. This gives you enough information to fall back on and draw on, when you need. The abundance of information also tends to give a comforting and motivational feel that you know ways to tackle situations/have read certain insights that you can apply.
8. If need be, keep tracking your progress
In life, it’s all about how well you can trick your mind into believing that as a person you are good and you will get better and better in due course. In view of this, I sometimes based on the task I’m on, try and keep a way by which I track my own progress. For example, to understand the depths of my inner self, to know how much I’ve changed as a person – for the good or for worse. I keep a diary where every day, I write how I feel, what happened during my meditation, what I felt in between the day etc. that aids me in knowing, where I’m headed.
9. Help Others
Many people get their life’s motivation from helping and caring for others. That’s also one of the prime ways in which successful businessmen like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson, Warren Buffet, use their money and add a feel good factor to their lives. When we aid anyone understand a tough marketing plan, aid a kid write his first words, aid a mother pay her child’s tuition fee, we re-kindle the subdued humanness within us.
This giving for the sake of giving, giving out of love and not expecting anything in return brings about another dimension in our lives which makes one ‘feel alive’ and good. It’s a bliss beyond expression. This second dimension in our lives, gives a new meaning to our work life and we want to do even better than before, only to aid others and make a difference in their lives.
10. Keep Good Company
People whom we surround ourselves with, prove to be strong influencers in our lives. There are times when we are down and we need those around us to get us back on our feet. We need to be able to count on them to do that. Therefore, its always in the best interest of ours to have people who are on the same wavelength as ours and those who share a similar mindset. In my experience, I’ve seen two kinds, those who believe in what we do and those who don’t, those who believe are the ones that would pull us up when we are in dire circumstances.
The latter, would always end up saying, “See! I was right, I never thought it would work out in the first place.” It’s not easy to only get those who agree but its always better. Those who agree are not always agreeing because of the prospect in front, but because they value our friendship and believe in us more than anything else.
11. Unite with one another and make it team effort
Competing in the business world or in any other field never really draws much good vibes. On the contrary, it draws out all your energy and tends to eat on to your mind. A healthy way of working towards similar goals is to team up with individuals who are also working towards it.
This paves way for new found wisdom within the group, sharing of information means more knowledge and better understanding. In that way, everyone is motivated to work towards a common goal and doing their best in the role they play in it.
12. Reading lives of good, renowned people helps
When we read the lives of people like Bill Gates, J. J. Watt and Steve Jobs, we realize the hardships that each one has been through. We realize that their pain and suffering is also similar to the ones we are going through.
We realize that to reach where we want to, we have to take the bitter medicine. This works on our psyche and we start moving forward with a new found energy and zeal, that comes from knowing there have been others on the path too – we are not alone.
13. Optimize your ‘ME’ time
Before jumping into the work at hand and going all out, take some time out every morning for yourself. Try and meditate for a bit to tune in to your inner self. Try and have a sumptuous and nourishing breakfast.
Try and get back from work early and have a good time, reading a good book or playing an outdoor sport. Prioritize time for yourself, so you are motivated to do well in an all-round way. This way, you will also become holistic in your outlook towards your goal. In a nutshell, spend time on yourself, so you can open up various perspectives within.
14. When in doubt refer to the heart
Whenever we hit a roadblock, refer to your heart. Find out why you are doing what you are doing. Reaffirm yourself of the nature of the task, what it’s going to do for You as a person, whom all it’s going to help. Rekindling the interest brings back lost passion and we end up having a new found enthusiasm to complete the task.
15. Move Around the Place
When we stick to a place and are constantly working on only one thing, we forget our surroundings and stay put in one place. We need to move around, this creates good blood circulation through the brain and all body parts releasing a lot of endorphins that stimulate the brain to work and create ideas.
16. Find the glitch
Find out where you’ve come to a standstill and why? Is it because you’re afraid, restless, frustrated or because you feel there isn’t enough time to complete the project. Find the glitch and clear it once and for all. Clearing the glitch in turn clears your mind and you are now relaxed to work in a designated manner.
17. Deconstruct Your Fears
The issue with us humans is, we are constantly afraid of something or the other. What are we afraid of? We don’t know…we are only afraid of the unknown most of the times. Analyse and dissect known from unknown and make yourself confident of handling the situation with finesse.
18. Plan Out Your Day in Advance
I generally plan my day the night before, this gives a foresight into what is needed from me for the next day and I can mentally prepare myself on how to manage it. This also motivates each one to look forward for the adventure of new work and wrapping up old work in a very timely manner.
19. Get The Right Ammunition
The tools and devices we use also have a very important role to play in our motivation to complete the task. I have seen many designers not wanting to work just because they have an overloaded PC in front of them that is pain when rendering hi-res artwork and 3D animation.
At the same time, when they have an Apple Desktop to work with, they are more than happy to take any amount of creative work on their plate. The tools we use involuntarily affect our mindset and output. Make sure all your devices are those that are appropriate for the task at hand.
20. Build On Success
When you’ve just won a deal, it’s easier to get yourself working on it, rather than waiting and having to slowly work on a partial one-time job.
21. Take it step by step
It’s not easy to work on a project as a whole from day one, therefore, its best to look at one step at a time. In this way, your concentration is intact and so is the desire to do your best as there is one point focus and not a multitude of things to handle in front of you. Its when we see a heap that we feel overwhelmed. When we see the first step, it feels like a good and adventurous journey to undertake every day.
22. Get a Partner (One Person)
Company is good. However, when you feel down get that one person who just by talking to you for a few minutes or being with you, can get you back on track. For example, many of us have jogging partners (one person with whom we jog), that one person becomes the reason you even go for a jog and enjoy it. Similarly, from his/her angle, you are that person – we become important for each other in a way that one feels down the other pulls him up.
23. Attitude Determines Your Altitude
A calm and serene attitude will speak volumes when you need motivation as with such an attitude only the goal is seen to be of use and nothing else. Problems get solved as in such an attitude, we tend to focus on solutions. Motivation is never lacking for such an individual as he is only focused on the goal and nothing else would do any good.
