Motivation is an emotion we – as homosapians – crave dearly. However, this sweet nectar that gets us through our daily lives seems like a finite resource, without it many of us struggle to complete even the simplest of tasks.
Where does it come from, and how can we create more?
First, we need to look at what motivation is.
What is Motivation?
Put simply, motivation is the driving force that causes us to strive towards meeting our personal goals or needs.
Motivation is typically influenced by our desire to reach a certain goal, like landing a job role that you’ve dreamed of for a long time for example. Motivation can also be impacted by potential gain, meaning that some people won’t be influenced to act upon certain decisions if they feel their efforts won’t be rewarded.
Why is Motivation Important?
Motivation is vital to the progression of us as individuals and to the improvement of society because it provides us with milestones to reach, situations to resolve. If we find ourselves in uncomfortable situations, motivation is the key factor in deciding to strive for something better.
Motivation helps us to right our wrongs, chapel old habits and help us deal with challenges as well as chasing new opportunities.
Wondering how to get motivated? let’s answer that.
How To Get Motivated
Many of us struggle to find motivation, sometimes even for small and simple tasks such as making the bed, tidying the house or even making a meal, never mind thinking about which career path to follow for the next five years.
People who suffer with mental health issues can find it much tougher to conjure up enough motivation to lead their daily lives. Issues such as depression and anxiety are very common, especially in young people. However, there are ways in which we can all attempt to battle our personal struggles in pursuit of that elusive concoction that is motivation, so here are some helpful tips:
Set one, specific, achievable goal
By hitting goals and reaching targets we can start to feel accomplished, and it doesn’t matter how large or menial the task, simply setting a goal and achieving it can be enough to provide the sense of productivity that spurs us on to complete other tasks and objectives.
Start small, and set a goal in the morning that you can achieve throughout the day or by the end of the day. Maybe you wan to try a new exercise at the gym? Or cook a new recipe? It really can be anything.
Eventually, after completing small specific goals, you can venture further into bigger and more expansive goals that can improve the quality of your living situation, career or personal relationships.
Reaching out to your friends and family is a great way to support your personal development. By confiding in others, we create a space for others to invest in the betterment of our lives.
Ways We Can Keep On Track
Keeping track of every goal and movement made in the build up to achieving those goals is an excellent way to – you guessed it – keep on track. Nowadays there are plenty of apps on our phones that we can use to keep on top of our actions, even a good old fashioned diary would do the trick. By keeping score, you’ll be able to see exactly how you’ve progressed, and if you feel unsatisfied with the results, you’ll be able to see where things got a bit bumpy or you went wrong.
Another way we can stay motivated is by practising positive self-talk and mindfulness. While it might sound like an uncomfortable process, standing in-front of the mirror and listing things you like about yourself – out loud – is an excellent way to generate a bit of self positivity. Whereas mindfulness can help us stay calm, relaxed and focused.
TEDx Doncaster Ideas
For more information on how to get and stay motivated, please find this helpful online guide. Likewise, if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, reach out to those around you for support, seek help from your local and online health services. Here is a link for online mental health support services that are committed to guiding you in the right direction when you just aren’t feeling it.
For more innovative ideas, touching on a range of subject matters, visit our ideas blog on the TEDxDoncaster website.
