What Is Motivation and How to Stay MotivatedHome » Motivation Techniques » What is Motivation & How to Stay MotivatedWhat is motivation? Motivation is about moving towards something. It is that feeling that you experience when you desire to do something or reach something. Motivation can have good origins (when you are driven to achieve a goal you have set) or its source can be negative, for example, when you want to avoid something. Typically though, it is a state that you want to keep. Unfortunately, that is not always easy. Your motivation can wax and wane with your mood, life events and other factors. There are, however, techniques that you can use in order to maintain your levels of motivation . Here are some to try next time your suffer a setback or tiredness, or, whatever it is that stops you from moving forward in life. Have A ReasonThe most important thing is to have a reason for whatever it is that you are trying to achieve. And, it needs to be a good reason. If this activity isn’t pleasant or the purpose isn’t clear or you don’t have a big enough desire for the outcome, you won’t be able to sustain motivation. Always have a convincing “why” behind what you are doing. This is then a safety net for the moments when you struggle most. You know why you are making the effort.Know YourselfYou also need to know yourself and what works for you. Know where your strengths lie and play to those. It’s hard to stay motivated when you are constantly surrounded by your weaknesses. Everybody has weaknesses, so there is no point in beating yourself up about them; it’s simply more effective and enjoyable to work where your strengths can shine and you are able to achieve the success you know you can.Don’t let yourself end up in a situation that simply doesn’t suit you, for example, a noisy workplace when you need quiet; working in a team, when you prefer to work alone etc. Once you know your preferences, do your best to set up your environment so that it reflects these. You are not at the mercy of the external; you have the power to turn circumstances around to suit yourself. Be mindful of the factors that help you to remain motivated; don’t become your own worst enemy by forgetting what helps and what will make your life easier. If you need regular breaks, schedule them into your day; if you need to exercise, make the time (see time management techniques and tips to help you find more time in your day) Have A Positive AttitudeHaving done the best you can with the external, you then need to turn to the environment within you. What is your attitude? Do you think you will fail or succeed? As they say, if you think you will fail, more than likely you will, and, if you believe you will succeed, more than likely you will. The importance of a positive attitude is not a myth. You need to have a success mindset. This means viewing any mishaps as “learning experiences” and not failures.If you apply yourself, you can obtain a higher level of motivation overall and a more consistent experience of drive. As you strengthen your motivation it too will grow of its own accord. You are not at the mercy of your motivation; take it into your own hands. What is Motivation and How to Stay Motivated - Written by Juliet du Preez What is motivation to motivation techniques page |