Management Corner: 5 Tips for Self-Motivation

Management Corner

Tips for Self-Motivation5

Self-motivation can be a misleading term because so many of us look outside ourselves to find the extra willpower we need for a challenging task. Whether it is keeping our home as clean as we want, losing weight, or completing a work project, we often feel we cannot get moving on our own.

Tennis great, humanitarian, and Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree Arthur Ashe said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” This is a good beginning for a renewed sense of motivation. These five suggestions might put Ashe’s advice into action and give you that extra boost of resolve.

1. CREATE AND STICK TO A REGULAR SCHEDULE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

Plan the night before to get up at the same time each morning and set aside the same amount of time for the goal you are working to accomplish. For example, if weight loss is the goal, appoint time each week to create a healthy menu and shop for the necessary foods. Make meal time a special undertaking and enjoy both the preparation and eating of good foods. Remember time for exercise as well.

2. BREAK AN ASSIGNMENT DOWN INTO SMALLER PARTS.

When preparing for an important event like moving, going on vacation, or tackling a new work project, procrastination can seem much more appealing when the entire effort looms large ahead of you. If packing to move, divide the time you have into weeks or days dedicated to certain parts of the house. If readying for a big family vacation, do the same, but creating packing lists and deadlines for each member of the family well in advance of your departure date. If taking on a new work project, approach similarly and break down the bigger project into smaller jobs, and assign teams responsible for each job. Set deadlines for each of these smaller jobs to keep you on track for the bigger project. Don’t forget to communicate about progress between teams.

3. REWARD YOURSELF ALONG THE WAY.

For some, the routine tasks of life are easiest to ignore. Cleaning the house or filing reports is not usually the top item on anyone’s fun list, but they both must be accomplished on an annoyingly regular basis. Give yourself an extra 30 minutes of “me time” at the end of a couple of hours of tedious hard work.

Looking forward to reading, watching golf, or working on a project that excites you can make the time spent on more routine tasks pass more quickly.

4. CREATE AN INVITING AND ENERGETIC WORKSPACE.

Paying bills and filing important documents can be mind-numbing. Surround your desk with motivational quotes, family photos, and good-time mementos to make the space a pleasant place. Play music or listen to an e-book while cleaning. Brighten your surroundings by opening the curtains to natural light, if possible. Exposure to sunlight increases the body’s serotonin levels. Serotonin is one chemical used by the body as a mood stabilizer. Moderate exposure to sunlight helps stave off depression, a natural enemy to motivation.

5. PREPARE YOUR WORKSPACE WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS

IN THE RIGHT PLACES.

Whenever possible, keep needed items close by and always in the same place.

Set up your work desk with a neat arrangement of office items within reach.

If your work takes you to different job sites, find a way to keep your tools and supplies stored and organized so you can easily find what you need when you arrive at the next job. Time wasted gathering materials and putting them away might be enough incentive to put the task off until another day.

Most importantly, go easy on yourself. We all procrastinate at times. Learn from your mistakes and resolve to do better the next time.

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