Coffee might be your saving grace to get through the workday, but caffeine on its own won’t cut it in the long-run.
To stay passionate and excited about work, you’re going to need to harness your inner motivation. It’s stronger than a shot of espresso, and it can keep you going on even the most sleep-deprived and toughest of days.
We won’t keep you in suspense; here’s how you can stay self-motivated every single day:
Practice humility.
Surprisingly, humility can go a long way toward keeping you motivated. Oprah Winfrey may be one of the world’s most powerful and accomplished women, but she takes the hype surrounding her with a grain of salt. “There’s this part of me that’s afraid of what will happen if I believe it all,” she has said.
Even Oprah has bad press days — so she’s learned that by staying humble she can keep her internal motivation going, no matter what happens.
You too can follow in Winfrey’s footsteps and keep that entrepreneurial flame flickering by keeping your head low and not relying on the validation of others.
Remember your strengths
The inimitable Mary Kay Ash once said, “Within yourself lies everything you ever dreamed of being.”
Being an entrepreneur isn’t for the faint of heart, and it’s likely that you jumped in because you had the talent, drive, and enthusiasm to make things happen.
If you’re feeling down on yourself, take some time to examine those fantastic traits that got you where you are. If you need an extra-strength boost of motivation, consider journaling those talents.
Celebrate the little wins
We’re sorry to be the ones to break this to you, but those big goals you have won’t get accomplished overnight. Those goals will happen eventually, but you need to celebrate the small wins to stay self-motivated in the meantime.
As Tech.Co co-founder Frank Gruber put it, “This is a journey–a hard one–and the only way to make it sustainable and bearable is if you actually acknowledge your small successes along the way.” Remember, you need to be your own best cheerleader, because nobody else will.
Get healthy
A 2015 survey by Virgin Pulse found that the number one factor affecting employee motivation is health. Those results aren’t surprising: it’s hard–actually downright impossible–to expect employees to be motivated if they’re in poor physical or emotional shape.
Getting enough rest and being in great shape are also essential for you to stay self-motivated. Even if you already eat your vegetables, working out daily can flood your brain with feel-good neurochemicals that will help you stay self-motivated daily.
Reward yourself
Studies show that a majority of our decisions are motivated by rewards. While that might seem obvious, what’s surprising is how little people reward themselves for a job well done.
Promotions and raises are far and between, so you’re going to need to reward yourself to stay self-motivated. As long as you spend within reason rewarding yourself with a bottle of wine or pair of shoes isn’t just acceptable; it’s encouraged.
Do you have any tips to stay self-motivated? The Love the Hustle Tribe wants to hear them!
