How to Always Be Motivated (6 moves I love)
Momentum, motivation and everything before and after that. It’s the stuff of leaders, the magic of success. But how can we better control it? Or rather, can we?
Welcome to my top moves on how to always be motivated – or at least, how to better control our motivation so we can actually get more done more often.
These are the things that have worked for me.
Because I know there are a lot of other methods and recycled advice out there. And I’m not hating on them too much – they can and do work – but they feel kind of boring and the type of advice we all already know.
So I wanted to make a list of some new concepts, or at least some fresh takes on older ideas.
And yes, maybe these strategies are things you’ve heard of also.
But I’m still confident that the ideas here are unique and more effective than a lot of the other lists that simply regurgitate what everyone else is saying.
So welcome again, now let’s get it.
Momentum and Motivation (why it sucks)
Sometimes, I can’t even.
But why?
The truth is, it’s something everyone deals with. So let’s explore some of the core causes and reasons for our willy nilly inspiration.
Why getting started sometimes sucks:
A fear of failure
Perfectionism
Not feeling ready or waiting for the “right moment”
Imposter syndrome
Why keeping momentum sometimes sucks:
Things get difficult and the honeymoon phase ends
Losing focus by not having a purpose or end goal in mind
Shiny object syndrome (i.e., chasing new “opportunities” instead of doubling down on the original one)
No results and slow growth (results usually take time)
Motivation (a few truths)
Motivation has a lot of myths, but there are some important truths to know as well.
So before we jump into the nuts and bolts of this post, here are a few reminders to keep handy as you build and strengthen your motivational habits:
Not every day needs to be a home run
Action doesn’t follow motivation – motivation comes after action
Sometimes, motivation just won’t show up – but you’ll still need to do the work
Your motivations and inspirations will change and evolve with time
Money isn’t as strong a motivator as people think
Motivation can be learned and strengthened with practice and intention
How to Always Be Motivated (6 moves)
The concepts below should inspire motivation. They’re reminders and effective hacks to get more done, more often.
Of course, if you’ve got any more motivation hacks, I’d love to hear them – so let me know in the comments!
Alright, let’s get it.
1. Leverage the Activation Energy Principle
The activation principle is a simple one – kind of obvious actually.
Essentially, it’s the amount of energy required to simply start something. That initial burst is what we’re really interested in here.
Oftentimes, you’ll find that once you start, continuing the momentum of motivation is a lot easier.
Actually, this fact is the foundation for a few of the other tips below.
So rather than focusing on the bigger macro picture of tasks that need to be completed (which can be overwhelming), just focus on the minimum amount to simply start.
Do what you need to just meet, at a minimum, the activation energy for motivation. Just find a way to scrape enough motivation together to simply take the first step and start.
2. Remember the 1% Rule
This one is all about understanding and leveraging the effects of compound growth.
The 1% rule is simply this: aim to get just 1% better every day.
It’s manageable. It’s doable. It’s low stress.
Circling back to the activation energy concept, there’s also a good chance that most days you’ll surpass that 1% quota.
But even if you just do 1% every day, honing in on your skills and developing things – working towards your micro and macro goals, the effect over time is exponential.
The picture for this section is a simple equation that shows the effect. So stay focused and remember the payoff is huge. Remember that skills and daily focus compound to big results over time.
3. Use the Product-Environment Assumption
Our environment is a huge factor in our motivation and mood. No secret there. But let’s leverage this truth to our advantage.
Take stock of your surroundings. Everything from the clutter in your room to the paint colors on your walls influence your environment, and your mood.
Ultimately, your motivation can be effectively swayed from environmental factors. So it’s best to create an environment that matches our personality and design things in a way that inspires us.
For me, when I’m writing and producing music, I love natural light, organic colors and woods, plants and being clean and organized – well, not too clean.
When I’m writing a new blog however, I prefer a cafe or some public spot. It’s motivating for me and I get more done. I focus more at a coffee shop.
So yea, I’m a huge supporter of designing your space for optimal output.
While there can be some best practices and tips – for example, I love Marie Kondo’s take on things – also remember it’s personal.
So reflect on what environment you most thrive in, and choose whatever works best for you.
4. Apply the People Principle
The people in our lives can be some of the most important aspects of our success and motivation.
This is loosely tied to the importance of designing your space and environment for optimal motivation. But now we’re taking things to the next higher level and considering the relationships and people in our space and life.
Jim Rohn talks about the idea that we’re the average of the 5 closest people in our life. I like this concept.
While we can debate about the number and full influence, the basic idea is valid.
So audit your inner circle and ask yourself if the people in your life are motivated or have similar attitudes on work towards personal dreams and goals.
Surrounding yourself with like-minded people – and people who are slightly better than you – is incredibly powerful.
So start networking and try expanding your inner circle to elevate your motivation.
There’s no shame in spending less time (or even cutting ties) with people who aren’t pushing you or motivating you closer to your dream life.
5. Try the 5-Minute-Limit Theory
This one also circles back to the first and second moves. But it’s subtly different.
The 5-minute-limit theory (just a term I use here) is simply setting the reasonable goal of doing something for just 5 minutes.
It’s far less intimidating than trying to tackle the macro.
Again, as with the other similar methods, you’ll likely find that once you’ve started chipping away at your tasks, you’ll blow past that initial 5 minute goal.
It all comes back to the activation principle and the realization that motivation more often follows action – not the other way around.
So start creating and controlling your motivation by simply starting with a small goal of just focusing for 5 minutes. Then 10 minutes…then 20.
One year later, you’ll be zooming out and realizing that the 1% rule for compound growth is definitely a real thing.
6. Test the Method Acting Move
I love combining fields and borrowing strategies from industries and niches outside of my own.
And as a musician, I love the strategies that are particularly creative. So welcome to the method acting move.
If you’re not familiar, it’s a popular acting technique where actors will fully become the role they’re playing and never break character.
It can require a lot of imagination and visualization. But let’s see if we can borrow this tactic for motivation.
Here’s the move, imagine and strongly visualize you are currently living in your future ideal situation. Imagine you’ve checked off all of your current goals and you’re now the type of motivated person you’re currently striving to become.
Now look again at your tasks and the things you need to accomplish. Ask yourself this simple question: what would my future motivated self do?
It’s subtle, but pretty powerful. And you don’t even need to visualize yourself here either. You can use a role model or someone who’s in a position you're aiming for as the example.
So what would that person who you’re trying to become do in your situation?
They’d probably put their head down and get to work – with or without the motivation.
Other Helpful Tips…
Know your goals
Know your why and purpose
Zoom out and appreciate how far you’ve come
Stop comparing yourself to others (only to yourself yesterday)
Create a workflow
Try timeboxing and sticking to a daily schedule
Develop or strengthen your growth mindset
Study successful people and how they reached their goals
Mimic others who are doing the things you want to be doing
Read more books and focus on skill building
Fall in love with your content, product and whatever it is that you’re making
Focus on having fun and enjoying the process
Recognize burnout – avoid burnout
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