After 2020, when most of us were so unmotivated due to the state of the world and didn’t want to do anything that required more effort than stuffing our faces with Domino’s and watching How To Get Away With Murder, I think it’s time that 2021 sees a shift. If you need some tools and tips on how to get motivated then you’re in the right place!
Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash
Motivation is something that’s always come fairly easily to me. Of course I have my days where I absolutely cannot force myself to do anything of importance but it’s important to remember that everyone has those days. Me. You. Michelle Obama. Everyone.
But for a lot of us – entrepreneurs, those of us who have started a business, bloggers looking to grow their blogs, those of you who are studying for degrees – motivation is a key factor in most things that we do. If we’re not motivated, we’re not going to be working to the highest of our ability.
And of course lots of things can affect motivation. Family drama. A break up. Health issues. A FREAKING PANDEMIC.
But there are lots of ways in which we can aid our own motivation and help ourselves when we need to figure out how to get motivated. I truly believe that we hold the power in us. Tools, tips and resources are just extra, helpful things that can aid us in bringing out our own intrinsic motivation.
So what is a motivational toolbox?
Just as a plumber will have his toolbox of plumbing stuff, we all need our own toolboxes to help us in our day to day lives, jobs, businesses and ventures. You might have a different idea of what a motivational toolbox is but if you’ve never heard of the term before, to me, a motivational toolbox is:
“A toolbox of tips, tricks, tools and resources to help you figure out how to get motivated in the moment.”
That’s it! And the beauty of it is, all of our motivational toolboxes will look a little different. What works for me might not work for you and vice versa. So in this post, you will find suggestions of things that you CAN include in your motivational toolbox but it’s important for you figure the rest out yourself.
Want to know what to include in your motivational toolbox to help you know how to get motivated?
How to get motivated and 7 things to include in your motivational toolbox:
Podcasts, YouTuber’s and creators
I find SO MUCH motivation from other people, including YouTubers and other bloggers. Consuming the right type of content can REALLY help with motivation and how to get motivated. As a blogger, I consume a LOT of content. But being pickier with what I choose to digest has had a huge beneficial impact on my motivation levels. So this is certainly something to consider when adding these things to your motivational toolbox!
Whether it’s motivation for health and wellness you’re after, business and blog motivation or something else, make sure you’re reading, watching and listing to the right people.
Related read: What Yoga With Adriene Means To Me
Motivational books
Books are an amazing tool to have in your motivational toolbox. Motivational books are great to have on hand when perhaps you’re not in a position to actually DO anything (for example, if you’re on a long travel journey and can’t work on your laptop) but you’re feeling motivated and want something to help you keep up that momentum.
Motivational quotes, wallpapers and backgrounds
We all love a motivational quote, don’t we? Pinterest is absolutely FULL of them, so you’re never going to be short of a motivational quote or two. For this point, you might want to create your own Pinterst board where you can save all the quotes that help you get motivated. Or perhaps you can print them out and create your own scrapbook, if you’re a more hands on type of person!
Stick them to your fridge, use them as your phone and laptop wallpaper or have them jotted down in your journal. It’s really up to you what you do with them, as long as they’re in a convenient place for you.
Techniques that work for YOU
It’s important to remember that motivation is different for everyone. What motivates one person might cause another person to want to curl up in a ball and go to sleep. So finding appropriate techniques which help YOU stay motivated is probably the MOST important element of your motivational toolbox. Again, you can write these techniques down in your journal or stick them on the noticeboard in your office.
Some very basic techniques that you might want to consider or try for yourself are:
- To-do lists which are broken down into small and manageable steps
- The 5 second rule. 5 seconds then you’re up to do the thing
- Allow yourself time to get distracted (this helps MUCH more than powering through a task half-heartedly because you can’t stop thinking about watching the last episode of How To Get Away With Murder. Just watch the damn episode)
- Pomodoro technique: Doing something for 25 minutes then giving yourself a 5 minute break
An accountability partner or a support network
Having support for whatever you’re doing is incredibly important. I learned this lesson more last year when I delve into life coaching for the very first time and it changed my life. My current coach keeps me SO motivated. I love completing my homework for her and having our weekly sessions, they really do help keep my motivation levels high. All because I have that support and accountability from someone else.
Reminders of how amazing you are
Okay this is a bit wishy-washy but bear with me. Because we’ve all been there. Those times where self-doubt is soOoOo high that we just can’t bring ourselves to do anything because we don’t feel good enough or worthy enough or smart enough etc etc. That’s just your ego talking.
So these are some really valuable things to include in your motivational toolbox because mindset is incredibly important when it comes to motivation. When you feel like shit, you’re not going to be motivated, basically. You might want to try writing a few lists to keep on hand, such as; your achievements, things you’re good at, things you love etc.
Tools for when nothing will motivate you
Above all else, I’m a realist. I know first hand that some days, it is impossible to get motivated. Absolutely nothing will get you out of that funk. So when these moments arise, you have to honor them. Respect them. And tend to them. It’s times like these where my self care kit comes in really handy. Because self care is JUST as important as motivation. They go hand in hand really.
Your motivational toolbox doesn’t have to be a physical thing. I’m not suggesting you run to B&Q and buy a toolbox for this exercise. But just knowing where to turn when you need a little motivational boost can be really helpful. And also prevent procrastination i.e staying in bed all day watching Gilmore Girls.
But if you do want to create something to keep all of these things in one place, by all means, do it! Create YouTube playlists, Podcast libraries, write things in your journal, print things out – do whatever will have the most positive and effective impact on you!
What items, tools or resources are in your motivational toolbox? Would you add anything else to this list? Are you tempted to create a motivational toolbox?