Jun 25 2008
What Motivates You?
Regardless of where we are in life, we all have goals. A college student might want to get an A on her psych final. A young professional might want to pay off her credit card or get a promotion. A fitness buff might want to finish a triathlon or complete the 100 pushup challenge. Purpose-driven goals might include writing a book or starting your own business. Most of us have a running list (mental or written) of things we want to accomplish, and we’re slowly but surely working toward achieving those goals.
But we all have those days, don’t we? You know the ones–when you’re PMSing and it’s raining outside and you just don’t feel like running. Or when the baby kept you up all night and you argued with your husband and your heart’s just not in studying for the MCAT. Or when you decide to eat lunch out for the eleventh day in a row (even though that money could be paying down the Visa)Â because it’s just so much work to pack one.
I’ve been having more than my share of those days lately, and I’m looking for more ideas of how to keep myself motivated. I’d like to build up a motivational “toolkit” that I can draw upon when I’ve got a case of the blahs.
Here’s a list of things that motivate me now:
- Music. When I hear “Eye of the Tiger”, I can’t help but feel pumped up.
- Accountability. Knowing that I will post about any disordered eating struggles is a big motivator for me to stay on the healthy path!
- Having someone depend on me. If I commit to meet a friend at the gym, I can’t stand the thought of being late or cancelling. I’ll get there no matter what!
- Quotes. Like this one… “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” (Winston Churchill)
- Success stories. I love to hear stories about people who’ve beaten the odds and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve their goals.
- Rewards. Knowing that I’ll get something special for meeting a goal gives me something to work for and look forward to.
What do you recommend? What really gets you going?
I like those!
I am motivated by reminding myself to appreciate what I already have. In particular I am lucky to have my lovely husband and beautiful boy - they motivate me to do well in life.
my family
seeing how frickin HARD my husband works
new shoes (yeah isaidit :))
I’m big into quotes and rewards. I’ve created a folder with the motivational posters on it and set it to rotate on my screensaver - on occasion though I will switch it to the despair posters because the humor brings a smile to my face on one of those really dumb days!
~K
Eye of The Tiger, mos’ def! I have it on my phone, I blast it on the radio–helps immensely!
I’m also a quote junkie–I’m on a email list that receives one a day and I keep the ones that inspire me.
I think inspiring words help me; if someone went through something similar before me and can rattle off a witty diatribe about it; it definitely keeps me going!
These are all amazing ways to stay focused and motivated. Just hearing someone tell me that I matter and that they are there for me no matter what helps to keep me on track. But it’s not always possible (especially if your cheerleader is the one you might be arguing with!!!)
I think keeping a gratitude journal or asset list really helps. This way I can remind myself of what I already have. This either humbles me or kicks my butt into gear and out of the self-pitying mode I tend to live in.
ALSO, as MizFit said, shopping really helps me a lot of the time. It doesn’t have to be anything big or expensive, but something I will enjoy!
Oh and while I’m writing this, another way for me to get back on track is to be creative. I love to paint things and that helps me get happy.
Great ideas everyone! Have a fantastic day!
Anna
Eye of the Tiger, huh?
Makes me feel better about “One Moment in Time”…….. and the sad part is that I’m such a horrible singer that I’m sure I could bring down the YouTube servers if I ever posted a performance of my motivational rendition of Whitney Houston..
School is easy. When I’m sick and tired of class and homework and the intrusion on my home and social life, I close my eyes and imagine walking in my FIRST EVER graduation ceremony. I have never worn a cap and gown. I have never crossed the stage to receive my hard earned leather binder with the long coveted degree inside.
Work is harder, but a quick review of my past jobs and the perks and benefits and potential of my current job usually does it. Also, work and school feed off of each other. Without one, there is much less purpose and potential in the other.
Home-wise, I just have to get moving. I imagine what it will be like to just chill out in my clean and organized home. How nice it would be to invite the neighbors in instead of sequestering them on the porch, how free it feels to be able to invite friends to the house without worrying about how much grime I can hide in the 40 minutes it takes them to get here.
Health-wise, it’s all about how I want to look in a bikini.
I guess I’m super visual- hadn’t really noticed that before I wrote this little novel in your comments!
I like to allow myself to have blah days. I try really hard to not beat myself up when I just don’t feel like doing something. Putting less pressure on myself really pays off by reducing anxiety and self-blame. But then again, I’m a total slacker