3 Simple Tips to Kick-Start Your Motivation

Motivation is something that comes from within. It's what drives us, gives life a purpose. To translate it from Latin motivation means 'movement' - it requires an action on our part.

There is no 'one-size-fits-all' driving force behind motivation:

• Some people get up in the morning because one thought of a freshly brewed coffee makes them move faster than impulses travel from the brain to their legs.

• Some of us are hurried forward by an exciting plan or an all consuming bright idea.

• While others are driven by duty or responsibilities.

There is no right or wrong way to be motivated, as long as whatever motivates you adds a spring to your step and a bit of spice to your everyday life.

The same person might be motivated by different things not only throughout the lifetime but throughout one single day.

It might be coffee in the morning, a walk in the afternoon, and a glass of smoky red wine in the evening.

But alas, there are days when you don't feel like doing anything. Your usual rituals do not excite you, and nothing seems to motivate you.

Your motivation might disappear because of the recent failure.

Or laziness and procrastination could show up like a pair of unwelcome visitors and slow you down.

Or perfectionism might hold you in its tight embrace, making you unable to do anything productive.

For those kind of days you need to have a few simple tricks in your toolbox to give your motivation a boost.

There are so many good ideas, I'll share a few of my favourite with you.

1. Visualise Your Dreams

We all have heard about the powers of visualisation - and it is not a gimmick or a pseudoscience (well, not entirely). Visualisation works by exciting us. It gives our brain new images and ideas, and new juices start flowing that could help us restart our stalled engine. There are many schools, techniques and ideas on how to visualise. I would like to offer two types that I use myself.

I would recommend using good old Pinterest (or something similar) for inspiration.

Imagine that you have already achieved what you desire. Imagine the day when you realise that your dreams have materialised. Imagine the weather. If you like it warm and sunny - imagine the sun is shining, the sky is blue, the birds are singing. Imagine what you are wearing. Imagine what it feels like to have what you wanted for so long. This simple trick should help your motivation to show it's cute little face.

Or you could simply scroll through Pinterest, Instagram or any other visually stimulating and aesthetically pleasing sites for inspiration to see if there is anything that excites you. But don't spend more than 20 minutes on it as your scrolling might turn into an aimless activity after a while.

2. Share Your Ideas with Someone

Share your dreams or ideas with your most driven and ambitious friend or someone you admire or envy. Then admit to them that you are not motivated any longer and see what they say.

They might cheer you up; they might tease you or get angry with you for not fulfilling your potential.

Hopefully whatever they do should help you to move from the dead-end you are in.

If not - you'll have a nice chat with someone you like.

3. Go For a Walk

An exercise as simple as walking can help you clear your head by kick-starting your cardiovascular system and your motivation.

Once more oxygen is flowing through your brain you might become more open to new ideas and feel refreshed and ready to act again. Any other type of exercise or physical activity will do. I use walking as it's the easiest and the most affordable.

If all the above tricks fail - you might be over-exhausted.

If that's the case, then you need to restart your batteries ASAP:

• Forget about your dreams, goals or desires for a short while, they won't go anywhere;

• Allow yourself to take a short break from it all;

• Get a good nights sleep;

• Eat healthily;

• Do what brings you joy, but that is not too stimulating;

• Avoid consuming too much coffee or alcohol;

• Rest and relax. These me time ideas might come useful.

• Read uplifting affirmations or quotes.

After a few days, you should be in a mood to try techniques described above, and they might work this time. If not - try spending a bit longer in your self-care regime. I've written an article about 7 lazy self-care ideas, they might help you recharge your batteries.

Then try visualisation to spark your creativity, or go for a walk to re-energise your brain or spend a day with someone you love drinking something warm and eating something sweet.

Final Thought

Motivation requires action. Or as James Clear puts it: Motivation is often the result of action, not the cause of it. Getting started, even in very small ways, is a form of active inspiration that naturally produces momentum. Try a little something every day until your motivation comes back in its full brightly coloured glory!