6 Tips on How to Motivate Yourself

Have you ever noticed that there's never a lack of time to do what you'd rather not do? Yet, the moment you really want to do something, suddenly time is in short supply.

When it comes to motivating yourself, there are no shortcuts or quick fixes. In fact, some people have argued that motivation is a bit overrated that we think we need it because we want to avoid the real issue.

This may be true but there is no denying that motivation plays a major role in what you achieve and how much you achieve; after all, you can't ride your bike if it's not in gear and becoming unstuck often starts with getting motivated.

However, motivation is not a simple thing. In fact, it's complex and multifaceted, which can mean that finding the key that works for you won't be quick or easy.

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What follows are six ideas aimed at helping you find your way to self-motivation more easily:

1. Take a break

If you've just had a big setback -- failed an exam, lost your job or experienced some other disappointment that was important to you -- the last thing you need is another failure.

That's why taking a break may be exactly what you need after experiencing failure or loss. Although the length of time will differ from person to person, it tends to be somewhere between 24 and 96 hours.

During that time you need to do absolutely nothing related to the thing that was important to you, just doing things that are completely different.

2. Squash negative self-talk like a bug

Negative self-talk is that little (or big) voice inside your head that criticizes everything you do. As its name suggests, it's not exactly a cheerleader when it comes to your efforts and achievements (regardless of how much effort you've put in or how much you have achieved).

It may sound harmless, after all who doesn't have a voice inside their head, but there is a growing body of evidence that suggests negative self-talk can have a powerful impact on your life.

For example, one study found that people who engage in negative self-talk are more likely to experience depression and anxiety; another study showed that students with low self-esteem had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol when they were asked to give a public speech.

This means that negative self-talk can have a detrimental impact on your physical health, which suggests that it's something worth paying attention to.

3. Exercise every day

Exercise is a natural way to increase energy levels and relieve stress. In fact, it's so effective at increasing the feel good hormones in your system.

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4. Focus on what you have going for you

When things don't go well, you fail an exam, lose a job or experience some other disappointment, it's common to think about what you don't have going for you.

That strategy is understandable, but there are two things to keep in mind. First, when you focus on what you don't have, which seems natural at these times, it tends to be something big that feels overwhelming. Second, even though it makes sense that this would be the time to focus on big things that you want, research shows it won't work.

So, if you're drowning in debt and focusing on your lack of money isn't the best idea. Instead, it's better to focus on all the things that are going well for you right now, like the fact that you have a job or that your kids are healthy instead of what isn't.

5. Know where you want to go and why

It's one thing to think about what you want. But if you haven't decided exactly where you're going and why, your motivation is likely to fade as time passes . This means it's important to sit down and create a plan that includes specific goals (which may or may not be related to the bigger picture).

6. Give yourself the gift of meaning

Meaning in life serves two key functions that can be applied to motivation. First, studies show that life meaning is associated with greater happiness; second, it increases your tendency to think about the long term (and not just what you want right now).

That last point is important because recent research has found that thinking about the future tends to enhance self-regulation and self-control.

This finding is significant because it means that thinking about the future helps you to pursue your long-term goals despite difficulties or delays, which can make staying motivated a lot easier. So, don't forget about the big picture and find ways to infuse meaning into your life .