Question: 6 Simple Ways to Find Motivation in Your Everyday Life

This was going to be my year. At the beginning of 2020, I was newly married, I had a new job, and for the first time in a while, I had a solid exercise routine that didn’t zap all of my energy or leave me cursing the inventor of cardio. I had lofty goals for where I wanted to take my business, and I was optimistic. Most importantly, I was motivated.

Then, of course, the pandemic arrived. While I have been incredibly fortunate throughout these trying times, I have definitely fallen short of what I had hoped to accomplish at the start of the year. At first, I refused to give myself grace. I resorted to harsh self-criticism, and my biggest complaint was about motivation. Specifically, I had none, and I missed it.

But that was a mistake. It is vital to give yourself grace, and it is equally important to remember that motivation isn’t an elusive aspiration that is near impossible to sustain. Rather, motivation is all around you. It’s on your bookshelf, in your past triumphs, and in the relationships you have with your friends and colleagues. To put it simply, motivation was waiting for me. It’s waiting for you, too.

Here are six tips that have helped me get and stay motivated during this unprecedented time.

1. Establish Small Rewards for Yourself

This has been crucial for me. Whether you have a daunting project on your hands or a task that simply doesn’t excite you, creating your own reward system can be the push you need to keep at it while bringing some energy and enthusiasm to your work. For instance, when I scratch something off my to-do list, I let myself read a chapter of a book or listen to 10 minutes of a podcast I’ve been devouring. This kind of system will motivate you to take care of pressing tasks and maybe even get you excited about work you’d otherwise put off.

2. Take a Break to Work on a Personal Project

You may have taken some time in quarantine to start a home improvement project, pick up a new skill, or get invested in a new hobby. If you’re feeling stuck or rudderless with your work, it could be beneficial to pause and divert your energy elsewhere. Take 30 minutes to chip away at an ongoing passion project. This can give you the fuel you need for the rest of your day and provide you with something to look forward to.

3. Revisit One of Your Past Successes and Break Down How You Got There

Maybe it’s the high-profile account you landed or the high-dollar sale you netted for the team. While it’s always good to be forward-thinking with your main or side hustles, it can be valuable to reminisce on your greatest achievements and remember how you obtained them. This will remind you the impressive heights are worth the many tiny steps it takes to get there. Then, you’ll be more motivated to take those steps again...