What's the best way to self-motivate?

Question

I have a lot on my plate just now with working, studying, looking for a new place to live, adjusting to married life, paying off debts and trying to save. I really need to manage my time well and keep my energy levels up, but I find that a lot of the time I just can't be bothered with any of it. Today for example, I had a day off work so it was a perfect opportunity to catch up with other things (including finishing an assignment for my post-grad course that has a looming deadline), but I spent about 5 hours in bed this afternoon napping, feeling guilty and worrying about what I should be doing, instead of just getting off my butt and doing it. How can I break out of this horrible habit and just get more done? I'd really appreciate some useful advice 'cause both my work and studies are starting to suffer.

Answer 1

This is what works for me. I wake up put the coffee on and sometimes i even put a drop of Kahlua to take the kinks out of my neck. shower up walk the dog and asses what is important today.Ahh you can only do so much in a day so why kill yourself doing ten things half rite pick two or three things that or must important. be happy with what you accomplished. go home have a couple of shots of rum. might be a good time for a few hit:s if that your pleasure. little nappy time for dinner . think about next important things for manyana. if you have a companion have wild passionate sex go to sleep start again tomorrow

Answer 2

I'm in a similar situation. The only way for me to get going is to draw up a list of the things to be done. I then start doing the 'easy' things first to build up my motivation before moving on to the more difficult ones.

If there are some REALLY difficult ones, it helps to break them into pieces. For example, an assignment for your post-grad course can be broken up into:

* Get books from the library
* Prepare outline document in word processor (title, table of contents, section headings and subheadings, references)
* Read books - this one should actually be spread out over many days - you can make it a chapter a day, or three chapters a day, for example. Write down which chapters you'll read on which days - even if you can't stick to it, it's a plan
* Draw diagrams
* Write text
* Type up references

If that doesn't help, it probably means that you really need a rest. Take a guilt-free 'holiday' by putting it on your list, and use it as a reward for doing one or two other things on the list first (the easy ones).

Try to keep the momentum going by praising yourself :-)

Answer 3

Resting in bed like that just proves you're fully human, so congratulations! First of all, relax. Not to worry. You probably have a little bit of anticipatory fatigue with that laundry list of responsibilities you just listed for all of us around the globe to read. I would first have you calm down. Everything will get done. If all of that were on my plate, I would simply break it all down into little small tasks that were do-able. I would then post the list on my refrigerator out in the kitchen and each morning when I had gotten my bearings and knew what day it was I would go to my little list and find just one item to focus on and I would not allow myself to quit until I could in all good conscience draw a line through it because I had tackled it and come out victorious. There is absolutely nothing wrong with hopping into bed and pulling the covers up over your head. That is probably your natural reaction to too much to do. It is what I call "the overwhelm." But remember that all big things are just a bunch of little things. Find just one thing you CAN bear to do, and do it. For me it is usually the laundry. Or the few (8) dishes in the sink. I can usually come out victorious with those every time, and doing them is getting things moving, and priming the pump. Once you finish one thing, if you are in the mood, tackle maybe one more thing and then go sit down and feel good for a few minutes.

Answer 4

Sometimes the body takes over and does its own thing, letting us know what it needs or sending a message we might not be on the right track. If you over rule that, it can be at the risk of burning out.

But motivation for me comes from dreaming. Seeing what it is that I want, and seeing what I have to do to get there, and enjoying the process of getting there because I choose it freely.

Perhaps you need to remind yourself what it is you want. And perhaps determine if you've gotten off course with your dreams and are chasing some you don't believe in.

Answer 5

Looks like you're taking on a workload that would slow most people down. 5 hours in bed seems like a natural re-action. The guilt trip is mother nature's way of making you do something about it; my experience is that if you don't listen to the old girl, she takes her own measures - illness of some kind.

You need to prioritise things and do them in bits that you can manage. I know it's easier to say than do but, believe me, it's easier than what you are doing now, or letting Old Mother N intervene.

Answer 6

just keep picturing where you want to be in the future, and instead of sitting thinking about what could happen start working and work as your whole future is on the line now, and that if you dont get it sorted now, you never will. it will always be hard to carry on you just got to think about what you dont want to happen, and you will work to keep away from that.

Answer 7

Our self motivating emotions are 'pain & pleasure'. Add more pain to not taking action & more pleasure to taking action. This may require a pen & paper if you can be bothered getting up (just kidding).

Answer 8

Do not wait for motivation. Get started and motivation will find you.

(Logging out of Yahoo! Answers might be a good start)

Answer 9

think positive! tell yourself how lucky you are to have got where you are & try to imagine reaching the goal you are trying to achieve. difficult i know when your head is up your bum & youre stressing big time but remember to take a step back & ask yourself why youre doing it in the 1st place

Answer 10

Play animal crossing.