Five ways to keep yourself motivated (and how not to do them)
Getting something started or something done can be a challenge at times, even more if you are an entrepreneur or work by yourself.
Motivation is always necessary at some point during your professional work hours and during the time span of your professional life.
Here are five ways on how to get yourself motivated and also what you should not do them:
1. Take a break
Short breaks never hurt anyone! It will do you great good in fact. Get of your chair if you have worked for hours on end. Stretch yourself, go make some coffee and have a look outside the window for a few minutes.
Don’t do: Go outside to your nearest coffee shop and pick up a magazine or your mobile. This will easily eat up a whole hour of your work time without you even noticing.
2. Use your calendar
You don’t necessarily need a paper agenda for this. The internet offers a wide variety of tools for this such as Google Calendar. Alternatively, you can use your cellphone. As soon as you get a task, put it on your calendar!
Don’t do: Never look at your calendar after you put a task on it.
3. Set deadlines
If possible, get things done before they are due. This will leave you sufficient time to double-check and re-do anything if necessary. Also, you could turn in things earlier than promised in order to cause a good impression!
Don’t do: Set deadlines which are too tight and unrealistic for yourself.
4. Set Goals
Set daily goals for yourself. If you happen not to finish something, make it your starting point the next day. This will assure that you have a steady pace at which things get done and you will hardly get lost or stuck.
Don’t do: Never set goals you’ll not accomplish!
5. Tempt yourself
Suppose you have an important upcoming event on your personal agenda. You will probably want to clear up time for it. This will motivate you to stay on track and get your tasks done within the correct timing.
Don’t do: Constantly need motivation to get anything done.