Set daily goals, try to make half of them “reachable goals”. Some of your goals can be simple like drink a cup of coffee. Others might be making a phone call. Being able to complete a goal will make you feel more motivated to get the next goal done. It works the best when you right your goals done and can cross then off as the day goes.
Set a timer for activities you’re not motivated to do. Let’s say you just can’t stand the idea of sitting down and writing, set a timer to write for 5 minutes or so. That will motivate you to start the activity and most the time you’ll continue after the timer goes off because you broke the motivation barrier.
Set up a reward system. Usually I encourage breaks, it makes a good reward. But sometimes if you sit you won’t get back up. So tell yourself that if you do two loads of laundry today you’ll watch your favorite tv show when your done. Or if you run a mile today you’ll eat out for dinner. Whatever works to motivate you.
Find a companion. When you have someone with you the task doesn’t seem so daunting even if they aren’t actually contributing. I always ask my SO to talk with me while I do the dishes. And waving them and loading the dishwasher goes by so much faster when you have something to take the focus away from the work.
Feel proud. It’s o.k. to share every once in a while. If you cooked dinner and it looks great go ahead and tell someone. You cleaned the bedsheets, go ahead and make someone smell the new clean linen smell. But it’s also alright to just think to yourself I did it. I made those 10,000 steps today, I made that difficult phone call, or whatever it may be. Don’t be afraid to feel good about the little accomplishments and the big ones.
