5 top tips to stay motivated

I have two tasks today that I absolutely need to get done before the end of the day. Both are important. One of them is a fairly mundane task; the other is something that I am going to enjoy a lot. Now, if I think about it, the motivation to do the pleasurable task is already there.

However, I don’t feel at all motivated to take on the unpleasant job. That, I think, is basic human nature. So it got me thinking about exactly how we can motivate ourselves to do those less glamorous jobs like filing your taxes or mowing the lawn or whatever you know you have to do but always have a hard time getting started.

Here are my top 5 tips for staying motivated…

Get fit and stay fit. You need a lot of energy if you want to stay motivated. So try to find some time each day for aerobic exercise. This will raise your overall energy levels.

Eat properly. Be sure to make time for proper meals, especially at work. Get away from your desk at lunchtime, even if it’s just for half an hour. You will be more productive when you are there.

Keep your eyes on the prize. Every day, review your most important goals. See yourself as if you have achieved them. See yourself receiving the prize, award or reward. You will get a proper perspective on the events of the day by doing this regularly.

Get organized. Make a list of everything you need to do ahead of time. Then decide what those top two or three priorities are that you need to accomplish the next day.

Now here’s the trick: do the unpleasant task on your list first! You will feel much more motivated when you have it out of the way. Not only that, but if you keep doing this, you’ll wonder why those tasks caused you any kind of mental difficulty in the first place.

At that moment: I have gone for a run, I have had a light and healthy breakfast, I have reviewed my objectives for the day and I have my list. Now where did I put that tax form?