How to Get Motivated When You Don’t Feel Like It?

No matter how focused you try to be on a task or project, there are some days when you just do not feel like doing any work. Even when you know how important the work you are doing is, there are times when you need some tips on how to get motivated so that you can make it through the day. 

If you ever feel this way, do not worry, you are not the only one! Even seasoned professionals sometimes go through a phase when they feel demotivated. On such days, even doing some exercises at your sit-stand desk may not be helpful. 

Luckily there are a few things you can do to get yourself out of that slump, and back to your usual levels of maximum productivity. This article has some handy tips that, with the help of awesome furniture items and accessories from Autonomous, can be the ultimate solution to help you get motivated. 

20 Tips and Ways to Stay Motivated

Are you sitting in your ergonomic chair, scratching your head, and wondering how to motivate yourself? The following tips can help:

1. Get Started!

Instead of wasting a lot of time procrastinating and wondering how to find motivation, you can simply get started on your project. Chances are that as soon as you bury yourself in your work, you will find that getting motivated will be easier. Think of the times when you do not feel motivated to get out of bed. If you simply force yourself to get up and go wash your face, you will soon feel ready for the new day.

2. Stay Positive

Staying positive in terms of the thoughts you feed your mind can be a great tool when trying to get motivated. At times, the things that are bringing you down are your own negative thoughts rather than the work you have to do. If you want to maintain some positive energy at work, start by reminding yourself to stay positive.

3. Break Tasks Into Bite-size Chunks

Trying to decide how to get motivated is difficult when you have a seemingly overwhelming task ahead of you. However, if you make it a habit to always break down big projects into smaller ones that are easier to manage, getting motivated to start working on them will not be as difficult as before. Set smaller goals for yourself, and each success will spur you forward.

4. Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself

Everyone makes mistakes. If you make an error, do not be too hard on yourself. At times, you can be your own worst critic, which can lead you to blow the problem out of proportion. When this happens, you will feel the energy draining out of your body. Be realistic and judge yourself fairly so that you do not demotivate yourself completely.

5. Be Thankful for What You Have Done Already

When you are finding it hard to motivate yourself to take the next step, looking back a bit might be the key. A great way of figuring out how to be motivated is to remind yourself of all that you have already accomplished. Once you remember that it was you who did those things, you will be ready to tackle new obstacles. 

6. Narrow Down Your To-Do-List

When wondering how to gain motivation, it is helpful to give yourself a manageable to-do list. Look at the entire project and narrow down the list until you are left with only the things you can accomplish with the time and resources you have. Once you get those out of the way, you can start working on the next step.

7. Be Constructive

If you make a mistake, make sure you constructively criticize yourself. Instead of constantly scolding yourself, consider why you made the mistake in the first place, and what you can do to avoid repeating it. Once you see that there is a practical solution, you will find it easier to continue working. 

8. Visualize Your Future

If you are not motivated to work, you can sit back and take a few minutes to visualize your future. Think of the joy you will have once the task is complete, or of the rewards that you will get if you manage to push through. This will guide you in the right direction and help you get back in the saddle.

9. Try the 10-minute Rule

A good trick to have up your sleeve when struggling with how to get motivated is to use the 10-minute rule. Simply put, instead of trying to get all the work done, which might demotivate you, tell yourself that you will try it for 10 minutes and see how it goes. Chances are, by the time the 10 minutes are over, you will be in the mood to carry on with the task. 

10. Set Realistic and Attainable Goals

One sure way to demotivate yourself is to set an unattainable task. When you fail to reach your goal, you will wind up feeling too discouraged to carry on. You need to be realistic at the start of each task and determine whether you can complete it, and if so, how much time it will take. 

11. Remind Yourself Why You Are Doing This

There is a reason why you get up each morning and go to work. It might be for your family or because you have some personal goals to achieve. Whatever it is, remind yourself constantly why you need to push forward, and it will help you through your low moments. 

12. Avoid Negativity

If you are trying to come up with ways to find motivation, you can't afford to surround yourself with negativity. Some people will only pull you down and make you feel worse about the situation. Avoid such negative people at all costs. If you can surround yourself with people who will offer you some positive and constructive advice, you will find it easier to get up and go to work.

13. Be 100% Committed

If you can train yourself to remain 100% committed to completing the tasks you have set for yourself, you will be able to go far. However, you can’t always control the way you feel, so you may need some help once in a while. Try using some mood board ideas to help you stay committed no matter how you might be feeling. 

14. Avoid Distractions

Everyone has their weaknesses that can easily distract them. This can be anything, from a family member to friends, your favorite TV program, or even taking a nap during working hours. Whatever it is, you need to try and avoid distractions, even if it means finding somewhere secluded to work.

15. Spice Things Up

Are you wondering how to gain motivation in a different and exciting way? You can try using some motivational games as part of your work activities. This is a great way to bring the entire team together and help everyone stay motivated until the job is complete. If you can spice things up at work, you will not have any time to feel demotivated. 

16. Remove Clutter

Many people do not realize just how big an effect the nature of their working environment has on their motivation and productivity. Studies have shown that working in a cluttered and untidy environment is not great for productivity. If you constantly have to dig through piles of clutter every time you want a file, it will soon sap all the energy out of you. Take some time to tidy up your desk before you start working.

17. Look for Inspiration in Others

One of the best things you can do for yourself when trying to figure out how to get motivated is to look for inspiration in others. Whatever difficulty you are going through today, there is bound to be someone who has experienced it before. 

As such, instead of feeling lost and hopeless, look at how others have managed such situations before, and find some inspiration in their stories. Having a mentor or someone who inspires you can be a great source of motivation on those difficult days. 

18. Ask for Help

It is surprising how so many people would go through a tough period on their own rather than ask for help. If you have a strong support network around you, such as family and friends, they can help you get through those difficult moments when you are feeling demotivated. All you have to do is work up the courage to ask for help from someone you trust. 

19. Get a Dose of Good Music

Music has always been known to be one of the best ways to motivate yourself, get your blood pumping, and put you in the right frame of mind to get to work. If you wake up one morning feeling a bit low, playing your favorite music can help get the day started in the right way. Also, with the right music, you can experience the benefit of standing desk exercises when it comes to lifting your mood on a slow day.

20. Remind Yourself of Your Power and Potential

Regardless of how difficult the task you are tackling may be, you have to remind yourself of your talents, determination, power, and potential. If you tell yourself that you can do it, you are already halfway to the finish line. 

While there are a lot of things you can do to motivate yourself, the biggest part of your strength has to come from within. This is why you always have to work on having positive thoughts and reminding yourself that you are capable of anything.

FAQs

How Do You Find Motivation?

There are many different ways to find motivation. It all depends on your situation, your goals, and the kind of person you are. If you enjoy being active, you can find motivation by trying out a few exercise routines right there in your office. 

You can also look at how others have solved the same problems you are going through, and this will motivate you to keep on trying. Any of the tips in this article can help you find the motivation you are looking for. 

Where Can You Find Motivation?

A big part of figuring out how to gain motivation is knowing where to go looking for the answers. In this regard, the internet is your best bet. There are so many sources of motivation and inspiration on the internet that all you need to do is take a look. 

You can find motivation in inspirational videos on YouTube, success stories on social media, or even through receiving great advice on chat forums. The internet brings all the information and motivation that you need right at your fingertips.

What Can You Do When You Have No Motivation?

Working out how to be motivated on days when you are feeling particularly low can be difficult. You might struggle to even get out of bed in the morning, let alone start working on your project. 

However, it is times like these that the advice in this article can help you. With 20 awesome tips to choose from, you will be sure to find at least one thing that you will be able to try.

Final Thought

With these awesome tips on how to motivate yourself, you will never have to go through a massive slump in your productivity ever again. All you need is to try any of the advice in this article and see which works well for your needs. 

If you want to go the extra mile, you can even buy yourself a great active chair from Autonomous. This way, whenever you sit behind your desk, you will feel ready to tackle anything the day has in store for you.