How to Stay Motivated

One of the tricks to staying motivated is to have a goal and an exact target that you know you need to hit.

Example: "By October 28,20xx I will be able to run X miles."

After all, as they say, "If you don't know where you're going then how will you ever get there?"

So you know you have a task to complete and you'd just rather give up on it and try something else. But where does that get you?

Nowhere if you give up and then you're right back where you started!

First, you need to be strict with yourself and don't allow yourself to quit! Make a commitment to your project and tell others if it helps. When you tell others about your goal it makes it harder for you to just give up when the going gets tough.

And yes, it will get tough! But that's okay, this is how you become what you were meant to be!

Consider this a game and you will eventually win the prize (your goal) if you don't quit.

I like the idea of making a vision board or collage because it helps to show you AND guide you to where you're headed.

The trick to a vision board, (In my opinion) is to make it as detailed and specific as possible. Don't just paste random crazy pictures up that have nothing to do with your goal.

They need to have meaning for you and ignite some kind of emotion from you.

If you are trying to get your diploma (High School or College) then put a picture of yourself there graduating! Add the cap and gown, add pictures of your new career, add what you'll be able to have after you complete this goal!

The same thing goes for any other goal you are trying to achieve.. Maybe you're trying to start a new business venture or project?

Well put pictures up to represent your goals, make that collage as detailed as possible with your desired date to achieve your goal.

Add little pictures of small milestones that you'll also pass along the way. This IS IMPORTANT!

You don't just get to your goal overnight, but you pass many roadblocks and get sidetracked or have rough days. You need those little milestones to shoot for and to encourage you to keep on going when the going gets tough.

For example, if you're trying to lose weight and you can barely run to your mailbox and back then put a picture of your mailbox and a man/woman running happily to it.

This is your first little benchmark to pass; to run to that mailbox easily.

Extra little mini pictures like this will help to motivate you to reach for those benchmarks and keep you from becoming discouraged when you think you'll never get there.

YOU WILL GET THERE!

Motivational tapes are extremely uplifting and will put you in a feel good mood and give you so much sage advice to keep you in a positive mindset.

Now, you may be thinking: "I listen for a while and I like them at first but then I lose the feel good feeling." The reason why you lose that great, happy feeling is because you've stopped listening to the tapes!

Zig Ziglar once said something like, "Being positive and staying motivated is kind of like taking a bath, you have to do it every day!" So yes, you need to feed your mind every day with positive thoughts and motivating ideas to keep you up and to help you especially when you're feeling down.

Go to ebay and either look for some motivating cds (or tapes if you still have the tape player in your car like I do!).

Remember that once is NOT enough. You need to listen every day! This makes all the difference in keeping you motivated and in a positive place.

Here is a great, uplifting video to help push you to
make that extra effort.

In his book "21 Secrets of the Self- Made Millionaire," Brian Tracy suggests that you write those goals down every morning! Each day can be different so go crazy with it.

Invest in a spiral notebook and keep it in a safe spot. Every morning sit in a comfy spot with your cup of coffee or tea and write down all your goals in that notebook.

Write your top 15 goals and write them out in the present tense.

Ex: "I am living in my beautiful 4,000 sq ft luxury home."
"I am earning x amount of dollars every month!"

The more you do this the closer you'll be to achieving your main goal and once you write them down you really start to believe that it's possible!

When you are trying to get and stay motivated, try to stay away from people who are negative or "Debbie Downers." You know who they are; they always have something mean spirited, rude or something critical or depressing to say about something.

Don't let them bring you down to their level. Keep your mind focused on your goals and picture yourself achieving your goal every day and every time someone is rude or critical towards you or others.

Think about how happy you will be to achieve your dream goal.

If you don't know how happy you will be when you've achieved the goal then just think about a time when you were at your absolute happiest. Hold on to that feeling and remember it when you feel bad, upset or angry.

You know what I mean. "Oh I can't work out because I just ate a big dinner," or "I can't go to the library right now because I need to do this first."

"I need to eat this doughnut because I had a bad day!"

Look at the big picture and ask yourself this, "Will this get me closer or further away from my goal?"

If the answer is yes, then proceed. If it's a big fat NO then you shouldn't do it. Be hard on yourself, don't let yourself down. Promise yourself that you will not quit when you have obstacles in your way.

Quitting is much too easy. Believe in yourself and believe that you can achieve your goal.

No more excuses allowed.