Do you start most tasks or days with enthusiasm, but you lose your readiness to complete it somewhere along the line? Losing motivation is a huge problem that causes millions of people to struggle. You rely on your motivation to be on autopilot like these new cars that drive themselves, but you can’t always control the day or your reactions to it.
Yes, if you’re struggling to find the motivation you need, you can rest easy as this is a fixable problem. Like with most things, the change starts in your brain. First, you must fix your mindset to help get your motivation engine in the fast lane.
Many people struggle daily to have the gusto they need to complete everything. Have you ever been on your computer and you have ten tabs open, one is frozen and spinning, and you hear music playing from some random place? It’s maddening for your computer to try to configure all the commands it’s receiving at once, so it stalls.
Your brain is remarkably like a computer system. It’s intricate, and it will crash if you try to cram 100 things at once. The only problem is that your brain and body are connected, and you will feel horrible when your mind is out of whack.
Eight Highly Effective Ways to Refocus Your Brain for Increased Motivation
1. Change Your Diet
You may lose motivation because you’re not eating healthy. If you consume carbs, fast food, and junk, then you’re not going to run on all cylinders. See, your body needs the vitamins and minerals found in fruits and vegetables.
Without these foundations for a healthy life, you’re like an engine that’s misfiring. Have you ever had a spark plug going out in a car? It will spit, sputter, and miss as it’s going down the road.
You will get horrible gas mileage, and you’ll be lucky to make it to and from work. However, it’s like the whole car gains its power and comes back to life when you put in that new spark plug. The same will happen to you when you feed your body the proper nutrition.
2. Simplify
Okay, so how many things do you think you can fit into one day without crashing? Remember, you’re not a superhero, and you don’t have magical powers. You might lack motivation because you have so many things on your plate that no ordinary human being could accomplish it all.
Try prioritizing your day by the most challenging tasks first, and then save the more straightforward stuff for the afternoon. Part of losing motivation comes from having a jam-packed and overwhelming day. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t be scared to say no.
There is power in taking control of your day, and your brain will be less frazzled. It’s time to simplify to improve your enthusiasm.
3. Take Time for Self-Care
You’ve probably heard a lot about self-care these days. According to the National Library of Medicine, more than 17.3 million people in this country suffer from depression. Shockingly, this equates to over seven percent of the population. Do you know one of the number one causes of depression?
The circumstances around you are a significant contributor and when you don’t take time for yourself. For example, what would happen if you never changed the oil or had a tune-up in your car? Eventually, it’s going to break down. The same will happen to your mind and body.
If you don’t take time to pamper yourself on occasion, then you’re just asking for trouble. When you’re losing motivation frequently, then you might want to review how much downtime you’ve had for self-care. It would be best if you had time to take care of yourself.
4. Set Small, Obtainable Goals
Do you set goals for yourself each day, week, or month? Are your goals so high that only a superhuman could obtain them, or are they realistic? Remember all those star charts and reward programs you did for your kids growing up? Well, they also work great for adults.
The child inside of you likes to see that you’ve accomplished something to made others proud. For instance, you want to please your boss, which makes you have favor in your position. When you reach these goals, you should get a reward.
What a difference it will make in your life if you set goals and watch yourself cross them off one at a time. You certainly won’t have any issue losing motivation when you see how you’re progressing.
5. Focus on Giving Rather Than Receiving
Perhaps you’re losing motivation in life because you’re focused on the wrong things. Life is about so much more than making money and having possessions. When is the last time you sat down and were thankful for all you’ve been blessed with?
When was the last time you bought groceries for someone having a hard time? Have you ever helped serve at a soup kitchen, or what about volunteering at a homeless shelter? Sometimes your perspective gets out of whack, and you need to reevaluate your life.
Step back and look at the big picture; you’re certain to find that your life is much more blessed than many around you. When you wake up and are thankful for your job and the paycheck it brings, it can increase your enthusiasm and improve your attitude.
6. Meditate
Have you ever had a car overheat on you? Do you first pull somewhere safe and shut off the engine? The car needs to cool down because you’re afraid it can catch on fire if the temperatures get too hot.
Well, think of your brain in the same capacity; if you don’t get somewhere and cool off, then you’re going to have a significant issue. Meditation is a brain reset that helps you to declutter and pitch the negativity you’ve picked up. Everyone has daily stressors, and there is no way to avoid them.
However, you can learn how to deal with the stress, process it, and release it from your body. You don’t want to hold on to all that negativity anyway. Meditation is great because you can “cool off” at your desk, in your bedroom, or on a bench in the grocery store if needed.
7. Use Positive Affirmations
How do you wake up each morning? Do you hit the snooze button five times until you don’t have a minute to spare? Do you drag out of bed like you’ve hibernated for the winter and just awoken?
Your morning routine can mean everything when it comes to your day. If you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day, it can help your motivation. Positive affirmations are like putting a little bit of high octane in your gas tank.
Cars always do better when you put a little octane booster in them, and affirmations can be just the boost you need. For example, tell yourself things like:
- “I am going to have a great day.”
- “I will accomplish all of my goals.”
- “I’ll make time for me today.”
- “I love my job, and I am thankful for the income it provides.”
- “I’m loved by many, and I love in return.”
When you start using the power of positivity, it can change your entire mindset. Using these powerful statements each day rewires your brain to think more positively than negatively.
8. Focus on Accomplishments, Not Disappointments
It’s easy to become so focused on what’s behind you that you ignore what’s before you. Your mistakes are yesterday’s news; if you have breath in your body, you can make today a better day. Stop turning around and looking at all the times you failed; rather, you need to focus on the times you succeeded.
If it helps you, make a list of all your accomplishments. Whenever you feel self-doubt, get out this list and remind yourself of all the great things you’ve done. It’s hard to argue with irrefutable proof, so keep pushing those negative experiences away.
Final Thoughts on Losing Motivation…and How to Replenish It
As you struggle to stay motivated, remember that there will always be those times when everything goes wrong. Having a bad day is inevitable, but you will get through them. However, if you’re losing motivation before you even begin, you need to make changes to your life.
First, start with your mindset. Try using positive affirmations and motivation to help you stay centered and purge negativity. Other changes like eating right, getting enough sleep, and not taking on more than you can handle will also benefit.
Don’t beat yourself up too bad if you lose motivation occasionally; you will get back up the next day and have a fresh outlook.
Community
