Working from home throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has bought with it many lifestyle benefits for me. I have more time, more energy and the coffee at my house is always excellent. However, I don’t have energy of an office to keep me at my peak. My job is now mine and mine alone.
I often think about what motivates us. What is it that creates this mystical force that gets us up for that run or makes us pick up that study book? And motivation is mystical. When we need it most it can completely elude us. Other times it hits in the middle of the night when we’re trying to get a good night’s sleep! If only motivation had a power switch. Regardless of how important a task is, there are times when you simply don’t feel like getting into it.
Maybe the task is boring. Maybe you don’t feel like it. But if you can’t stir up motivation, then how can you get things done? I have a few tips.
Be Accountable
Set yourself a deadline and hold yourself accountable to it. Tell someone important about your goal. If you tell someone you are going to hit a goal by a particular deadline the last thing you’re going to want is to face that person and tell them you couldn’t cut it.
Break A Goal Into Tasks
Planning bite sized actions towards a wider goal can make it much less daunting. Break down your goals into 30-minute units. These bit sized units are unlikely to have a dramatic effect on your daily commitments. As you start, your motivation might perk up. If not, it doesn’t matter because you only have to keep at your task for 30 minutes, knowing you’ll get it done as long as you stick to your plan.
Start Now
If anything is guaranteed when you have no motivation for your tasks, it’s procrastination. Suddenly, everything in the world feels more important than that one thing you really don’t want to do. The moment your inner voice says I’ll just quickly do X first, that is your wake up call to shake it off and start your project.
Focus
Our environment contributes greatly to our focus, so pick your backdrop carefully. You will achieve more in your 30 minute planned allotment if you give the task at hand your undivided attention. Pick a time and a place where you can be left alone by the outside world. Make sure your space is comfortable and keep everything you need close by. Unless you need help for this specific task, keep your phone out of sight and ideally on silent. If you’re someone who needs a little background noise, opt for something without words: maybe some jazz, classical or Ibiza chill. Anything that doesn’t pull you in for an impromptu sing along or have a story line to detract your attention.
Keep Persevering
Setbacks and failures can be demotivating, but the only way to really fail is to give up. Perseverance through these times of low motivation changes the story. You haven’t failed, you’ve learned how not to do something along your journey to success.
The Pocket Version
If I had to summarize the above to a note you could carry in your pocket, it would boil down to one thing: self-discipline. It takes discipline to not let distractions and procrastination get the better of you. With discipline it’s impossible to not stick to that plan and hit that deadline. To have discipline is to stick through every frustrating setback that makes you feel like giving it up or “taking a break for a few months.”
In the absence of motivation, self-discipline is the super power that will get you to the finish line. Keep it at the forefront and you’ll never need to play hide and seek with motivation again.
Zoe has worked in the financial services industry since 2002. She is a true believer in financial planning and thoroughly enjoys her work as a Senior Technical Consultant at EQ Investors. She believes her role in this industry is not always easy but it has purpose. She feels privileged to be in a position that helps clients build more fulfilling lives.
