Staying motivated to see the realization of your goals
and dreams is a process that requires practice.
It can be
especially challenging when you’re not looking forward to doing what it takes
to achieve them. Maybe you’re even like me and inclined to procrastinate
a bit here and there. After all, there are so many distractions in the
summer.
Here are some keys to success that will help you stay on track and achieve the goals you've set out for yourself:
Here are some keys to success that will help you stay on track and achieve the goals you've set out for yourself:
1. Visualize the end result. Creating a visual of what you ultimately want is a success key to understanding how to motivate yourself so that when you do achieve your goal, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment.
Action Step: Visualize how
you’ll feel once you’ve accomplished each goal. List on a piece of paper
how you’ll celebrate each step as a win once you get the tasks out of the way. Maybe a weekend away with your partner or a
trip to the spa or a round of golf is in order?
Find something that motivates you.
Create a vision board (Pinterest/Hard Copy with pictures) and hang it or
place the list where it will remind you daily of the desired result and the
celebration of success.
2. Determine what drives you.
- Are you driven by your own needs?
- Are you more motivated by the needs of your family or loved ones?
- Maybe you’re driven by the needs of your clients?
- What are you willing to do to achieve your goal?
- How badly do you want it?
Maybe your drive comes from wanting to pay off
your debt and provide more stability for your family. Maybe it comes from wanting to fit into all
those beautiful clothes you have in your closet.
Action Step: Once you understand WHY you want to accomplish
your goal, you can exploit your drive to stay motivated and focused. Write down your WHY and post it at your work
station, on your refrigerator or somewhere you will see it frequently
throughout the day. To stay focused on
your goals, be sure to look at it often.
3.
Reward yourself. Rewards are the very best motivators.
Every time you accomplish something on
your goal list, motivate yourself with a tiny prize. Set up small rewards for each goal you
achieve or for accomplishing a step toward a bigger goal.
Action Step: Staying motivated is infinitely easier when you
have something exciting in the immediate future to strive for or something to
anticipate: a cup of specialty coffee or
tea, a break to read one of your favourite books, or watch a movie with your
partner, or maybe some time to take a mini getaway.
Action Step: Review the
timeline you had in mind for accomplishing your goal. Is it realistic? Give yourself a set amount of time each day
to do something that moves you toward completing your goal. If you’re not finished when the time’s up,
save the task for the end of the day add it to your to-do list for the next day
and reprioritize.
5. Change your setting. Variety is the
spice of life, right? Sometimes, it’s
difficult to get motivated when you’re endlessly looking at the same view. Just changing the scenery may be all you need
to get the ball rolling.
Action Step: If it’s nice outside, take your work to the
porch or poolside. Move your laptop to a
window for some natural light. Live in
the city? No problem. Take advantage of the free wifi at nearby
coffee shop, grab a latte and get to work.
6. Divide Responsibility/Schedule/ Automate.
Many of us are juggling a tonne of stuff – a career, the demands of our
children, the household, long-term plans, and extra-curricular activities that
also take our time and attention.
If you
have a spouse or children, consider delegating some responsibilities to them. Kids who have responsibilities in the house
grow up to be more self-sufficient and independent. They can pull weeds, sweep, vacuum, take out
the garbage, set and clear dishes, fold and put away laundry, walk the dog and clean
out kitty litter.
Maybe your spouse can pick up the groceries on
the way home instead of you using your break to run all those errands. Plan your grocery shopping so it happens once
a week instead of five times a week – you’ll save money this way too. Bills can be paid online to avoid a trip to
the post office or to the bank.
Action Step: Hold a family, or
team, meeting to divide responsibilities throughout your household or office so
you can free up some valuable time to devote to achieving your goals.
Action Step: Take a look at
your goals and align your action steps with them each day, each week and at the
end of the month with an understanding of WHY you want what you want. Knowing why you want to achieve your goals,
and understanding what you have to do to accomplish them, will draw you, or
pull you, toward your desired results.
8. Utilize
PUSH power. This may seem like a
dirty little trick; however, sometimes it’s a necessary evil to stay motivated.
Try looking at what you want to achieve
from a different angle. Consider what
would happen if you didn’t reach those goals.
Ultimately, people do things for two reasons – fear and desire. Desire to achieve an outcome. Fear to avoid one.
Action Step: Think of what you
could lose if you don’t achieve your goal.
What will happen? How will it
make you feel? Analyze what’s at stake
and let the fear of THAT outcome motivate you into action.
Action Step: Raise the bar every month or even every week. If you have a goal in mind, ask yourself what
it would take to step it up one or two more notches. I’ll bet you’ll start to see your motivation
increase as you stay focused on achieving your goals.
Walking or
jogging not your thing? Try swimming a
lap or two in the pool before work or after dinner. Any kind of physical activity will help you
get motivated and get those endorphins popping.
Action Step: Commit to
30-minutes per day of any type of exercise that raises your heart-rate. Your heart will thank you for it and you’ll
see your productivity, and disposition, improve. Use
your peak energy to the best advantage by listening to your body – when is the
best time for you to work it out?
Follow these tips and action steps to help you maintain
your motivation so you can turn this New Year into YOUR year of success and joy.
Remember,
action is magic. Stay focused on
your goals by reviewing them daily, and disciplined by taking positive steps
forward, evaluate what’s working and do more of that. Avoid what’s not working. Do these things daily, weekly and monthly and
you’ll move from where you are to where you want to be.
Bonus tip: Ask for help!! It’s what coaches are for. We help you stay motivated and on track to achieve your goals and turn your dreams into reality.
If you'd like some help breaking your big life goals down into action steps and creating a plan to achieve them, I'd love to chat.
Contact me today to schedule your ZERO COST Rapid Results Strategy Call. andrea@coachforlife.ca.
About the Author:
Andrea Raco, is a Certified Success and Life Enrichment Coach, Founder of Coach for Life, and Curator of Gold Key Club ~ a private community for Ladypreneurs, Supermoms, and Sisters making a difference in the world.
For more information about her programs and services, visit www.coachforlife.ca.
