How do you motivate yourself to continue working toward your goals, especially when you face challenges? Although some strategies will motivate you more than others, it’s good to experiment with several different ways of finding your motivation. Then, when the chips are down, you can depend on one of these strategies to get back on track.

Try these techniques to motivate yourself to take action:

1. Break your goals into smaller, attainable steps. Especially if you’re working toward a bigger goal, break it up into a series of small steps that you know you can achieve. After each step, celebrate and reward yourself for a job well done. With small steps, you’ll be more likely to stay on task because your rewards come often.

2. Know your limits. You know yourself best and only you can identify your personal limits. If you move too slowly, you’ll know deep down that you could be taking more action. However, when you try to do too much, you risk burnout. Figure out that magic point where you can achieve success without much stress, and you’ll remain motivated to keep taking action.

3. Take away your distractions. There are some things that might be more likely to distract you than others. Remove yourself from these situations when you know that you need to be taking action.

• For example, if you’re a social person, perhaps you’ll need to stay away from friends and family during the times you want to work. Also, avoid surfing the net, video games, and television when it’s time to work.

4. Ask for the help you need. Don’t be afraid to get help from others. There’s only so much you can accomplish in one day all by yourself. It’s true that sometimes you’ll have to accomplish certain things on your own, but if there’s any way at all that someone else can help, consider that possibility and ask them.

5. Find an activity that energizes you. Sometimes you’ll find that there’s a period in the day where you go into a slump. Maybe you have trouble starting your engines in the morning, or perhaps it’s the afternoon that causes you to feel sluggish.

• In these times, find some activity to re-motivate and energize you. One thing that can energize you is a good exercise routine. It’ll get your heart rate up and send fresh oxygen to your brain. This will refresh you, help you think more clearly, and make you feel more like doing your work.

6. Keep a tight schedule. A good schedule and organized plan will help keep you motivated and on track. In the beginning phases of planning your goals, be very specific when deciding what you need to do and when. This way, when you complete a step, you won’t have to spend time figuring out what you’re supposed to do next.

If you want to succeed, you can do it through purposeful action. Just think about what you’ve done to accomplish goals in the past. Chances are you had a plan and followed through. It might not always be easy, but when you remain motivated, you’ll reach whatever goal you set out to accomplish!

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Of course, musical tastes vary and your own individual playlist will be different from someone else’s, but there are a few styles of music that are staples in the motivational music scene.

80’s Montage Music

These songs are prime choices when creating a motivational soundtrack. The quintessential example of this is the soundtrack to the Rocky series. That main theme has been used in many a montage and it’s still applicable in many real world situations.

That’s just the beginning. You also have songs like Europe’s The Final Countdown as well as Joe Esposito’s You’re the Best Around as options. The latter is most famous for its use at the end of The Karate Kid, where it plays while Daniel makes his way to the finals.

When it comes to motivation, few songs are better suited than You’re the Best Around. This song will give you the energy and confidence you need for success. It’s so affirming that a confidence boost comes even as you read the title!

Movie Soundtracks

This overlaps with the aforementioned genre, but there are quite a few movie scores that can have a positive effect on you.

You can’t go wrong with John Williams’ now classic Superman theme. Much like the hero himself, this tune gives you the positive energy you need to focus on your goals. It helps you believe that you’re capable of great things, and that’s the exact sentiment you want to feel in the music for your soundtrack.

Oldies and Classic Rock

Try adding a few tracks from the golden days to your playlist. Whether you’re a Beatles or Elvis fan, oldies have a positive energy to them. You’ll just feel good listening to them!

It’s the same with classic rock. After listening to a song like Rush’s The Spirit of Radio, you just may feel better and energized. You can then transfer that positive energy and emotion into whatever your endeavor may be.

The Flaming Lips

This lesser known band produces a unique brand of music that’s happiness incarnate. Listening to their music may make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Unlike the other categories, this selection is more about improving your mood and lifting your spirits, as opposed to pumping you up to meet a challenge.

Some other artists, like Polyphonic Spree, produce a similar brand of music. They’re most well known song, Light and Day, is also very positive and uplifting.

Epic Music

These are the type of songs you find in movie trailers. Songs like Nightwish’s Ghost Love Score or E.S. Posthumus’ Pompeii make great background music while also filling you with a sense of excitement and anticipation. Just hearing the song can be an awe-inspiring experience and that’s great when you want to elicit the same reaction from others.

Music is a major part of anyone’s life. It has an impact on us that’s hard to define, but impossible to ignore.

While it’s not the only factor in improving your life, whether it’s getting in shape, impressing the boss with hard work, or boosting your own self-confidence, it’s a definite asset to your efforts.

Try listening to these songs and others to create a motivational playlist that can spur you on to success!

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Discover 9 keys to get motivated and stay motivated! Learn easy ways to motivate yourself to overcome procrastination, practice patience and perseverance. Eat better, exercise, and make a decision to choose to be happy in spite of your circumstances. Here’s how…

“Most people ask for happiness on condition. Happiness can only be
felt if you don’t set any condition.”
Arthur Rubenstein

1. Practice patience, perseverance, and prayer. There’s a story of the person who prayed, “God, please give me patience, and hurry!” In this day and age of cell phones, fax machines and instant gratification, it’s easy to want what we want NOW. No one is willing to wait for anything anymore. However, as we mature, we discover that it often takes patience, perseverance, and a lot of hard work to get the things we really want. Whether it’s a promotion at work, losing weight, or having that great relationship. If you believe in God, pray for patience, persistence and guidance. God sees the big picture. We don’t. Often, looking back, we see that many of the circumstances we just “had to have” go our way weren’t really right for us in the long run.

2. Learning how to overcome procrastination helps you get motivated and stay motivated. I believe deep down most people know what they’re supposed to do to improve their lives. But we procrastinate doing that activity. We just don’t want to do it. Whether it’s getting rid of the clutter in our home or office, cleaning up our eating habits or cleaning out the garage. Most of us know there’s something we need to do that we’ve been procrastinating. Yet, by procrastinating a task, we end up cluttering our minds further by thinking about what we should be doing.

If you have certain spiritual beliefs, just ask for the courage to do it. Turn to God. This is not something I discuss in my speaking engagements as my audiences are diverse businesspeople from different backgrounds. But asking for strength works. By admitting your weakness you will often gain strength in overcoming procrastination. And you’ll supernaturally be helped in many other areas of your life as well.

Stop trying to do it all yourself. Give yourself a break. Give up some of the control. Take it in baby steps. For example, clean up just half of the garage. Or, begin that exercise program just three days a week for 30 minutes a day. Too often we fall into the “all or nothing” mentality. If we can’t do it all at once, well, we simply don’t do it at all!

3. Practice positive thinking. Think about what you’re thinking about! I read on the internet that the number one thing people would like to change for the new year is to have a more positive attitude. Thoughts lead to words. Words lead to actions, and your actions determine your approach to your career, relationships, health and just about everything else. Positive thinking is something you often have to practice.

I am a worrier. And of all things, a motivational speaker! It’s my job to help people become more productive, improve morale and stay motivated. In many cases, it’s also my job to help them increase profitability. Worrying is a habit I’ve tried to consistently break. After all, worrying is really negative thinking. Worry doesn’t solve anything. It doesn’t add a single day to your life. I make a conscious effort to think about what I’m thinking about. I shift my thinking to the positive whenever possible and it’s becoming more of a habit. Becoming more aware of your thoughts is half the battle.

4. Eat right in order to feel happier, healthier, and stay motivated. We all know what to eat and what not to eat, but often need to be reminded. Too many junk foods produce junky negative thoughts. Start your morning with some protein to stabilize your blood sugar. Increase your daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Switch to organics whenever possible to avoid exposure to harmful pesticides. If you travel a lot this isn’t always easy. Do the best you can. Remember, moderation is the key. The minute you have that all or nothing approach, you set yourself up for disaster by beating yourself up for not being perfect.

See your doctor to find out what types of vitamins and minerals you should be taking. Studies show that even when we’re eating at our healthiest many of us are still missing vital nutrients. Drink more water. If you’re under a time crunch, and who isn’t these days, try eating raw nuts such as almonds or pumpkin seeds for protein and iron. Dried fruits such as apricots, raisins and cranberries contain vital nutrients and add lots of flavor. I do this all the time when I’m conducting day-long speaking engagements. It’s vital for me in keeping up my energy and blood sugar levels not to mention improved mental acuity. Find out what works for you because everyone is different.

How To Get Motivated and Stay Motivated…Choose To Be Happy In Spite of Your Circumstances

5. Make a decision that you will be happy in spite of your circumstances. Don’t wait until everything is going your way in order to be content. Otherwise you will spend much of your life discontented. Avoid the “when script.” For example, “When I get that promotion then I’ll be happy.” Or, “When I get pregnant and have children then I’ll be happy.” How many times have you heard people say, “Once the kids are grown and out of the house THEN I’ll be happy!”

There’s always that illusive “when script” projecting into the future. And just because you count on something positive to happen, doesn’t mean it always does. People are fallible. You can lose your job. Your money can disappear. Things won’t always go your way. It’s okay to plan ahead and set goals for where you want to be. Just make certain you’re also happy where you are now.

6. Don’t compare yourself to others. We tend to compare the worst in ourselves with the best in others. Don’t compare your insides to someone else’s outsides. This is especially true for women. In our society, we are bombarded with magazines and media projecting an unrealistic standard of what we are supposed to look like. Not to mention that many magazines feature ads with supermodels who are six feet tall. Even worse, the photos have been airbrushed and retouched dozens of times. Focus on developing your own unique gifts and talents. If you’re too focused on trying to be like other people, you will become discouraged, give up, and lose sight of your dream.

7. Rest, relax, and recharge completely. It’s one thing to get motivated, but to stay motivated you need downtime to rest. If you’re sleepy on a weekend afternoon, take a nap.In our fast-paced American society, this is virtually impossible during the work week. America is one of the few countries in the world that does not take an afternoon break. Lots of scientific research has shown that lack of sleep negatively affects mood, stress levels, mental acuity, weight, and overall performance. And if you’re tired, you’re more likely to snap at your colleagues and loved ones. You won’t be a pleasant person to be around.

8. Exercise plays an important role in getting and staying motivated. Many participants in my speaking engagements tell me that walking outdoors during a short lunch break is enough to reenergize them. Exercising outdoors is especially beneficial in helping reduce depression during the winter months.

While you’re exercising, or driving to and from work, listen to your favorite music. Music is medicinal to the soul. One of my favorite songs is “It’s On,” from Boney James “Pure”CD. It’s very upbeat with lots of saxophone and serves as a huge energy booster and mood lifter. I’ll often play it after finishing a task I’d been procrastinating. It’s a small but very positive reward for me.

9. Get out of yourself. Be grateful for what you have. Do you have enough clothing, food, and a roof over your head? Practice an attitude of gratitude. Do some volunteer work, or spend time listening to a friend or family member in need. By helping others you realize how lucky you are and that the problems you face, whatever your “trauma of the day” happens to be, really isn’t so important. In order to have a happier, healthier life, focus more on what you have, not on what you don’t have.

Colleen Kettenhofen is a Phoenix, Arizona motivational speaker, trainer, & co-author of “The Masters of Success ,” featured on NBC’s Today Show, along with Ken Blanchard and Jack Canfield. For free articles, video clips, and e-newsletter, visit http://www.ColleenSpeaks.com. Colleen’s area of expertise are leadership, managing people, life balance, difficult people, presentation skills. Colleen is available for keynotes, breakout sessions and seminars.

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Why do people do what they do? Why do we go on everyday, living our lives and trying to find justification for our existence? Some people think that they can find purpose in the things that motivate them. Others just see the motivation and react automatically.

There is no one thing that motivates people to perform certain actions. People are different, so it follows that their motivations have to be different. Here are some types of motivation:

1) Achievement – This is the motivation of a person to attain goals. The longing for achievement is inherent in every man, but not all persons look to achievement as their motivation. They are motivated by a goal. In order to attain that goal, they are willing to go as far as possible. The complexity of the goal is determined by a person’s perception.

To us, the terms “simple” and “complex” are purely relative. What one person thinks is an easy goal to accomplish may seem to be impossible to another person. However, if your motivation is achievement, you will find that your goals will grow increasingly complex as time goes by.

2) Socialization – Some people consider socialization to be their main motivation for actions. This is especially evident in the situation of peer pressure. Some people are willing to do anything to be treated as an equal within a group structure. The idea of being accepted among a group of people is their motivation for doing certain things.

3) Incentive motivation – This motivation involves rewards. People who believe that they will receive rewards for doing something are motivated to do everything they can to reach a certain goal. While achievement motivation is focused on the goal itself, incentive motivation is driven by the fact that the goal will give people benefits. Incentive motivation is used in companies through bonuses and other types of compensation for additional work.

By offering incentives, companies hope to raise productivity and motivate their employees to work harder.

4) Fear motivation – When incentives do not work, people often turn to fear and punishment as the next tools. Fear motivation involves pointing out various consequences if someone does not follow a set of prescribed behavior. This is often seen in companies as working hand-in-hand with incentive motivation. Workers are often faced with a reward and punishment system, wherein they are given incentives if they accomplish a certain goal, but they are given punishments when they disobey certain policies.

5) Change motivation – Sometimes people do things just to bring about changes within their immediate environment. Change motivation is often the cause of true progress. People just become tired of how things are and thus, think of ways to improve it.

As you can see, there are many types of motivation. Motivational techniques have been experienced by every person from birth. We learn behavior through motivation. We live our whole lives because of motivation. The question that remains however is this: What motivation should a person have? This is important because our motivation decides our behavior. Some types of motivation are more effective than others. However, the perfect motivation for you can only be decided by one person: YOU.

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