How to become self-motivated

Everyone has things they either need or want to do, but may lack the motivation to actually get it done. Even if you have all the time in the world, you won't be able to accomplish anything without the necessary motivation. Being unmotivated can cause a person to become bored or even depressed; the question is how does one go about becoming motivated in something? If you've been lacking motivation lately, this guide will get you on your way to getting things done.

What’s holding you back?

Before you can achieve motivation, you first need to understand what is preventing you from becoming motivated. Stress and lack of sleep can halt motivation, so you'll first need to make sure you're getting enough rest . You'll also want to reduce the amount of stress in your daily life, if at all possible.

Reward yourself

Now that you understand why you're unmotivated, you can try a few different things to restore it. The first and most obvious way to attain motivation is by using the reward system. You may have used the same system with your children, by offering them some form of compensation for doing chores. If you have a task that needs to be completed, promise yourself a reward if you get the job done. You'd be surprised at how well this can work. The idea is to make the reward enticing enough for you to see the task through to the end. If it works on your children, it'll work for you.

Take out the guesswork with a task list

The next motivation method is to keep a journal and write down your tasks for that day, then mark them off one by one as you complete them. Everyone knows that it's easier to perform one task at a time, so you're not doing too much at once. The journal system works because it lists the things you need to complete, so there's no guesswork involved; you also won't be able to use the excuse that you forgot. For larger tasks such as major projects, break the project down into parts and rank them by difficulty. Do the most difficult task first, and the remaining tasks will seem much easier to complete.

Don’t underestimate the power of positive thinking

The last way to stay motivated involves your attitude. Instead of thinking "I should take out the trash today", think "I WILL take the trash out today". If you're serious about getting something done, it'll happen that much quicker if you have the right attitude about it. You'll find that willpower is one of the most important factors in keeping yourself motivated. If you have your mind determined to do something, your body has no choice but to follow.

While it may seem like a daunting task to get out of your chair and do something productive, it'll feel so much more rewarding once you're finished. With the right attitude and by taking things one step at a time, you'll have no problem staying motivated.