I'm Val! Coach for creatives
like you who are ready to be healthier, happier and more empowered women who love the business you run, the people you serve and the life you live!
3 Ways to Get + Stay Motivated
A Starbucks grande decaf latte with one pump white mocha and 2 pumps gingerbread. This was my go-to drink aaallllll throughout this past Christmas season, but let’s not talk about how expensive it was. 😉 There were just some days that smooth, warm, Christmassy drink was just the trick to get me going on my work day. I’m not sure exactly what it is anymore now that I don’t drink caffeine (shocker, I know!), but there’s just something about it that helps me get motivated to start on my to-do list for the day. But let’s be real, I can’t always rely on Starbucks to help me get motivated, so I’ve had to find other ways to combat the sleepy, motivation-less days. So today I’m going to share my top 3 ways to get and stay motivated throughout your day!
Last week we talked about setting goals for yourself and your business in 2019. Attainable goals are so helpful to keep us moving in the right direction, but the real work comes each morning when we wake up and start our work day! So even though we’d all love to think we don’t fit the typical “creative who sleeps in until noon and can’t get anything done” stereotype, we know that tendency runs in our blood. 😉 So let’s break the stereotype and get. stuff. done! this year with these 3 motivation-inspiring tips!
And just to be fully transparent, cause I know you’re wondering…I’m a recovering procrastinator who struggles with waking up, keeping routines and staying motivated errrday, but these tips really actually work for me!!
Almost every entrepreneur I talk to and coach LOVES the idea of being their own boss. They like calling the shots and having the flexibility to do what they want when they want it without having showered or maybe even left the bed. I, personally love being my own boss! But there’s definitely a dark side to having no one to notice when you miss a deadline or show up to work late. We tend to cut ourselves a lot of slack when we want to, and often fail to push ourselves when life and business get hard. So I think it’s time we outsource a part of the responsibility of being the boss, but good news! This outsourcing is free!
At the end of your work week, create a calendar for the following week with all the time you feel you need to be working. You can fill the calendar with generic “Work” time blocks, but I find it most helpful to list out specific projects directly on your calendar. Then, you know what time you need to be up and working on Monday, and all you have to do is look at your calendar and pretend that your calendar is your boss. See all the tasks and projects she has laid out for you and get it done! 🙂
*See Hacks 3, 4 and 5 in my Productivity blog post for tips to make the most of your list and calendar!
Mornings are the literal worst, aren’t they? My favorite part of the morning is when Mark gets up early and leaves the whole bed for me sprawl out over the last few minutes of sleep. It’s the best! And to be honest, sometimes that makes me never want to get out of bed. And that’s just not good for business.
We all need a reason to get out bed, sometimes our goals and dreams are enough, but other times we need to keep it simple. Remember the time Michael Scott set the George Foreman grill next to his bed so he could wake up to the sound of crackling bacon in The Office? It may have turned into a disaster (please watch this show if you never have!) but I actually think Michael was on to something here!
What is it that gets you out of bed in the morning? Maybe it’s coffee, or your favorite breakfast food, or a nice long shower. Orrrrrr maybe it’s the sound of crackling bacon on the George Foreman grill next to your bed? No judgement! 🙂
Whatever it is for you, add it to your morning routine. Make every morning one where you’re excited to wake up!
I’ve never met a person who doesn’t struggle with procrastination in some way or another. And procrastination is a total creativity and confidence killer, I’m sure you’ve experienced that! Well, here’s a simple way to beat it. When you’re planning out your day and all you have to do, do the fun tasks first. We rarely delay the things we’re excited to do. So do the fun things first and let the momentum of accomplishing your tasks carry you over to the things you’re less excited about.
This same idea applies to your easy tasks. Do the easy tasks first and once you’re in a good, productive groove, tackle the more difficult tasks.
SIDE NOTE: Of course, everyone is different and not every tactic will help everyone in the same way. If this doesn’t work for you, try flipping it. Get the harder and less fun tasks done first, so you have something fun and easy to look forward to later in your work day!
I hope these three tips help you get and stay motivated throughout your days! I would love to know, which tip was most helpful? What tasks do you find most difficult to motivate yourself to do? Drop a comment below, and let’s keep chatting about it!
I'm Val! Coach for creatives
like you who are ready to be healthier, happier and more empowered women who love the business you run, the people you serve and the life you live!
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