15 No-Nonsense Ways to Motivate Yourself

by Rhea Vitto Tabora

Have you been through that phase of doubting yourself, feeling like it’s the end of the road? Well, everybody does. We have all been there. We have experienced the pains and struggles of accomplishing our goals and living our life.

What do you do when you feel demotivated? Here are some ideas to help you with your journey:

1.   Start your day right. Smile, feel excited, and give thanks for a brand new day. Talk positive to yourself.

2.   Make a move and get started. The first step is always the difficult part, but once you’re in it, you know you’d rather keep going. You can even start doing something small that will lead you to achieving your bigger goals. The key is to get started and then work your way up. Before you know it, you’re ready to do the next thing on your list.

3.   Be enthusiastic. This attitude will overpower the negative outlook and will attract positive energy. You will then feel motivated and eager to complete your tasks.   

4.   Set a goal and aim for the bull’s eye. Dream big and challenge yourself. When you really want to achieve something, want it so badly that you will be determined to take the stairs to success rather down go downhill. If you really want something bad, you will do everything to make it happen. Remind yourself it’s what you want and that giving up is not an option, no matter how difficult the situation is.

5.   Stop comparing yourself with others. Don’t kill yourself. Many people have already started before you. Evaluate how far you have gone in your journey instead. Appreciate how much you have improved along the way and how much you have accomplished. When reviewing your results, you will also realize where you have gone wrong. Embrace the lessons and be inspired to do better.

6.   Remember your achievements. Whenever you start doubting your capabilities, remind yourself of your successes. Those accomplishments are great motivation to continue moving forward.

7.   Treat yourself after accomplishing something. Make a promise to reward yourself after getting things done.

8.   Have fun. Life is not all hard work and challenges. Give yourself a break. Go out. Have a good time with your friends and loved ones. In the midst of everything we do, remember that there is a “thing called life that has to be lived and enjoyed” as what the American comic actor and writer Sid Caesar said.

9.   Surround yourself with like-minded individuals. Don’t let negative people drag you down. They are not real friends if they are putting you down. Reach out to and connect with people who are passionate achievers, dedicated to honing their skills and enhancing their knowledge. If you want to motivate yourself, surround yourself with positive thinkers and great motivators.

10.   Read inspirational books. Listen to motivational audios. Watch encouraging videos. These materials will act like firecrackers to awaken your sluggish spirit and help you overcome your fears.   

11.   Think you can, then do it. If you think you can’t, then you’re already putting limits to what you can achieve. As what Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” It all starts in your mind and attitude.

12.   Get out of your comfort zone. You have to go out of your box and take risks sometimes. This approach in life will make you realize what more you can accomplish. If you won’t try, how will you know that you are capable of doing something bigger? As motivational speaker Bo Sanchez said, “How to take risks? Leave your comfort zone, get into your courage zone, but never go out of your core zone.”

Stretch yourself. Stretch your imagination. Stretch your mind. You'll never know how far you can go, what you can accomplish, and how many lives you can touch if you won't do that.

13. Don’t worry about getting knocked down. We have had our own share of failures. Even the great achievers have failed many times. Remember what Michael Jordan said? “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

What can be more inspiring than that? You failed – so what? Don’t lose your enthusiasm. Get up and move on.

14.  Do something for a reason. Why are you doing it? Why do you have to accomplish it? Is it for your own good? Is it for the benefit of your loved ones? If you remind yourself why you are doing it, then there is no reason you will drop it. 

15.Consider doing something that makes you happy. We have only one life to live. The last thing you want to do is to regret not doing the things that make you happy when you had the chance.  

Each step in your journey counts. Do something meaningful each day.

If you were able to pick up something from this article to inspire you, or if you have some friends who need some motivation, spread the good vibes around by sharing this article :)