Posted: 10th November 2014
By WIRE member Pavlenka Small from www.smallstepscoaching.co.uk
Personal development, career coach and start-up business mentor
It is impossible to stay motivated for 100% of the time and it is particularly hard when you work for yourself and may not have other people around you to share ideas with, making those difficult times a little easier by taking a break for a cuppa and chat before returning to your work with renewed enthusiasm.
Of course occasionally it may be best to just walk away if you are having a bad day, but if you feel lack of motivation strikes more often than not, here are a few tips on how to keep the motivation going when you know you have to get things done but just can’t seem to get round to doing them.
Set SMART goals
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound goals should reflect the purpose and direction you have for your business. Setting realistic goals will make you feel more in control and you are more likely to succeed.
Organise your time properly
If you know how to organise and prioritise your time and resources appropriately, things will run more efficiently, pressure will be reduced and you will have more time to focus.
Know where to start
Think of other activities you have achieved successfully (for example choosing to do online shopping rather than visiting the supermarket), and adopt the same approach. Step back and create an outline plan for larger tasks, breaking it down in to more manageable bits, This allows you to tackle work activities in a logical and methodical way.
Call a friend
Contact someone who knows you well for a little moral support, It is surprising how a chat with someone can lift your spirits and put things in a better perspective.
Keep busy
Even if you can’t face a certain task, there are always things to be done. Doing a bit of admin, research on competitors or filing will keep the momentum going and you will feel like you have achieved something, no matter how small.
Don’t feel guilty
Remember you are only human and we all have ‘off days.’ You may be lacking in motivation just because you are not in the right frame of mind so rather than blaming yourself for not doing what you had intended doing, remind yourself why you do what you do and what you have achieved so far with your business.
Finally—
If all else fails walk away, reminding yourself that tomorrow is another day!
