8 Steps To Continuous Self-Motivation

Many of us find ourselves in motivational slumps that we have to work to get out of. Sometimes it’s like a continuous cycle where we are motivated for a period of time, fall out and then have to build things back up again.

A good way to be continuously self-motivated is to implement something like these 8 steps from Ian McKenzie.

Keep a positive attitude: There’s is nothing more powerful for self-motivation than the right attitude. You can’t choose or control your circumstance, but can choose your attitude towards your circumstances.

How I see this working is while you’re developing these mental steps, and utilizing them regularly, self-motivation will come naturally when you need it.

The key, for me, is hitting the final step to Share With Others. It can be somewhat addictive and self-motivating when you help others who are having trouble.

My 8 Steps

I enjoyed Ian’s article but thought it could use some definition when it comes to trying to build a continuous drive of motivation. Here is a new list that is a little more generic:

• 1. Start simple. Keep motivators around your work area – things that give you that initial spark to get going.
• 2. Keep good company. Make more regular encounters with positive and motivated people. This could be as simple as IM chats with peers or a quick discussion with a friend who likes sharing ideas.
• 3. Keep learning. Read and try to take in everything you can. The more you learn, the more confident you become in starting projects.
• 4. Stay Positive. See the good in bad. When encountering obstacles, you want to be in the habit of finding what works to get over them.
• 5. Stop thinking. Just do. If you find motivation for a particular project lacking, try getting started on something else. Something trivial even, then you’ll develop the momentum to begin the more important stuff.
• 6. Know yourself. Keep notes on when your motivation sucks and when you feel like a superstar. There will be a pattern that, once you are aware of, you can work around and develop.
• 7. Track your progress. Keep a tally or a progress bar for ongoing projects. When you see something growing you will always want to nurture it.
• 8. Help others. Share your ideas and help friends get motivated. Seeing others do well will motivate you to do the same. Write about your success and get feedback from readers.

What I would hope happens here is you will gradually develop certain skills that become motivational habits.

Once you get to the stage where you are regularly helping others keep motivated – be it with a blog or talking with peers – you’ll find the cycle continuing where each facet of staying motivated is refined and developed.

My 1 Step

If you could only take one step? Just do it!

Once you get started on something, you’ll almost always just get into it and keep going. There will be times when you have to do things you really don’t want to: that’s where the other steps and tips from other writers come in handy.

However, the most important thing, that I think is worth repeating, is to just get started. 

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/8-steps-to-continuous-self-motivation.html

10 Secrets to Motivating Teenagers

We’ve all been teenagers, but as we age we forget how to connect with young people. We think that we can just tell them what to do and they’ll do it. Wouldn’t that be great?

As a manager you also need to play to teenager’s Superpowers, so they feel powerful and enjoy what they do. When you help them discover what they are good at they will be more willing to give you their full effort.

Most teenagers are a different kind of human until they get a few years of work experience or college under their belts. They think differently and feel differently than adults do. Try to remember when you were young and you had hormones pushing through you and all you could do was think about sex. That’s the first trick.

1. Put Yourself in Their Shoes

When you can put yourself in their position you can learn how to motivate teenagers. Teenagers may be weird, but they have emotions just like you and me. They’re just a little more intense. When dealing with a teenager make sure you are sympathetic to their needs. Make sure you see #4 Don’t Be a Push-over because they will take advantage of you if you let them.

2. Show Them Their Mistakes and How to Improve Them

Teenagers don’t pick up on adult concepts as quickly as adults. Well, duh. You will be surprised by how many business owners don’t understand this concept. Teenagers may be geniuses on the computer or multi-tasking, but they learned these things like everything else. When they make a mistake, explain what they did wrong and how they can improve it. This may need to be done a few times before they catch on.

3. Give Them the Respect They Seek

Giving a teenager the respect that he or she deserves will go a long way in earning their trust. Most adults treat teenagers like teenagers when all they want is to be treated like the man or woman that they are trying to be. Talk to them like an adult and they will raise their level of work.

4. Don’t Be a Push-over

A teenager will take two feet when given a foot, so make sure you set boundaries and if they cross them then document it and let them know. If they continue to cross the line then don’t be afraid to let them go if they you need to.

5. Enjoy a Good Laugh

There is nothing a teenager likes doing more than enjoying a good laugh. Yes they may be moody, but when a teenager is in a good mood it can be down right infectious to the rest of the staff, so allow them to get excited and have a good time.

6. Listen to Them

Teenagers want to help. They may be selfish, but they aren’t stupid. They can see things that you can’t. Listen to their suggestions. If they give you an idea that won’t work then let them know why and show appreciation for their efforts. If they have a good idea, tell them that you want to hear more and ask them to come up with a plan on how to implement it.

7. Have Patience with Their Learning Curve

Their learning curve is a little steeper than most adults, but their potential is greater too. Once a teenager catches on to a concept they make it their own.

8. Reward Them

The Gen Y generation and younger grew up being rewarded for blowing their nose. They don’t take well to harsh discipline, so when they do something good even without your approval, reward them. Give them an extra hour for lunch or a $20 bonus. Their idea might have saved you hundreds of dollars, so disperse the wealth.

9. Don’t Yell at Them

Teenagers hate to be yelled at. They get enough of that from their parents, teachers, and friends, so speak with an even toned voice when you’re upset. Make sure they understand that you never want to see such behavior, but don’t make a scene out of it.

10. Train Your Staff to be Patient

Many retailers employ young people because they are cheap labor and as a result, they are treated as “second class” employees by the rest of the staff. Big mistake. Train your staff to treat them as equals. When the rest of the staff gives them respect they will be more respectful to the customer.

Managing Teenagers Review

Teenagers want to do good work if they are given the right atmosphere in which to do it. They will need a little more attention, but you will find a few gems that make it all worth the effort. Who knows, that one little gem of a teenager might one day help you run your company.

http://www.workhappynow.com/2008/06/10-secrets-to-motivating-teenagers/

The Easy Way To Lasting Self Motivation

How can you become a self motivation expert? Does will power work?

Will power alone will never work over the long term. It isthe hardest way possible to get yourself to do anything.The answer is to discover the secrets of self motivation.Why?

Because it is like trying to open a tin can with your teethwhen there is a can opener in your pocket.Instead you need to tap into the limitless power of yourmind. When you do you can break bad habits, createbeneficial new ones and put yourself back on track easily,quickly and with very little effort.You see...Making changes to enhance the quality of your lifedoes not need to be slow or difficult.

Unfortunately most people are still struggling because they continue to rely onineffective approaches like will power.Forget about will power. Become a self motivation expert!Instead write down one small action you have been puttingoff and answer the following questions and really put somethought into the answers:

1 What am I missing out on of importance by not doing this?

2 What will I gain most by doing this?

3 Why is it important to me to get this done?
4 How is not doing this inconsistent with who I really am?

And then...

Pretend You Have Already Completed the Task:

Get a pen and paper and take 5 minutes to describe how youfeel now that you have already finished the task you havebeen postponing. i.e. as if you have already succeeded.e.g. I have already cleaned the yard and I feel fantastic.My family and friends are really impressed and I feel soproud of myself and so delighted that it is finally done.

The yard looks immaculate, so tidy I have even impressedmyself. I feel so powerful, energetic and motivated. I feelon top of the world. etc. etc.Do this quickly and write with as much emotion as you canexpress. Spend at least 5 minutes on it.You will be surprised at how well this simple process works.You may find that you feel a boost in motivation that getseven better each time you use this process. Do it once a dayfor best results.

Become your own self motivation expert.

http://goarticles.com/article/The-Easy-Way-To-Lasting-Self-Motivation/26328/
Image is courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Goal Setting - How to Motivate Yourself to Achieve Your Goals

If you think goal setting is hard, think again. That’s the easy part. The hard part is actuallyachieving those goals. Unless of course you are motivated to achieve the goals!

If you’re struggling with goal setting and how to get motivated, here are some tips:

   Break your goals into bite-size pieces

This is something I did a lot of last year, and it helped me immensely with the goals I had set for myself.

Setting large goals is perfectly fine, but you’re never going to be able to achieve those goals if you don’t work out a plan for achieving them.

When you break your goals down into bite-size pieces, and are doing just one or two small things a day to get you where you want to be, your chances of achieving those goals is much higher than if you did not break those goals down.

   Tell everyone about your goals

When other people know about your goals, you feel bad if you “let them down” by not achieving them. This makes it much harder for you to fail.

Tell your friends, family, colleagues, neighbours, your boss – tell anyone who will listen. Most importantly, tell people who are going to hold you accountable and constantly check in on your progress. This is exactly what you need to keep moving forward.

   Post your goals everywhere

Make sure that your goals are posted everywhere that you are.

Instead of writing out your goals on a piece of paper (or worse, on the computer) and then sticking that paper in a spot where you will never see it unless you go looking for it, display your goals all over the place.

In your office, on your bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator, in the car. When you are always reminded about your goals, you are much more likely to achieve them.

To keep yourself motivated, it’s also a good idea to post your progress.

   Don’t compare your goals to others’

Share your goals with others, but don’t think that your goals have to be the same as someone else’s.

We all have different hopes, dreams and desires. You don’t (and probably shouldn’t) have the exact same goal list as someone else.

Your goals are your own, so stay focused on them and only them.

   Join an online forum related to your goal

Whatever you are interested in, there is likely a community forum related to that interest.

There are forums for saving money, getting out of debt, couponing, quitting smoking, living a healthy lifestyle, exercising, parenting, cooking and so much more.

Do a quick search online and you are sure to find a forum to join. Sign up and start connecting with people who have similar goals as you.

   Reward yourself often

Don’t wait until the end of the year to congratulate yourself on a job well done – congratulate yourself now.

Just taking the first step in creating a goal, and a plan for that goal, is a huge accomplishment.

Give yourself small rewards after each milestone, and at the end of the year, if you’ve achieved your goals, you’ve earned a big reward (decide what that big reward is when you set your goals, so you know what’s waiting for you at the end).

Motivating yourself to achieve your goals may seem difficult at first, but it’s really not, and it’s an important thing to do when you’re working toward something.

Without motivation, it becomes extremely difficult to gain any traction and it’s more than likely that you will give up on your goals rather quickly.

When you motivate yourself, you can achieve anything. So start motivating!

Pictures are courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

http://www.mrsjanuary.com/simple-living/goal-setting/

How to motivate employees

When employees feel motivated, they engage more with their work and can affect the entire team’s output. You have a vested interest in the quality of your team’s work, obviously, but you also have a responsibility to contribute towards their job satisfaction.

Of course, every individual will relate to different methods of motivation, but here are six ways of keeping your team’s spirits high:

1. Make them feel valued

Don’t underestimate the importance of recognising and praising hard work. If an employee feels they are making a difference and helping reach targets they feel a sense of purpose and valued by the organisation.

2. Manage well

Clear leadership and frequent communication will aid your team’s success and avoid any feelings of being left in the dark.

3. Encourage career progression

If an employee sees little room for advancement they may feel they have nothing to work towards. Create extra responsibilities for staff to expand their experience and put them in better stead for promotions. Provide training and development opportunities and as well as showing employees you’re confident in them your team will also benefit from the added expertise.

4. Create a good working environment

The office atmosphere can have a powerful impact on the way people work. Any conflict or negativity will almost certainly restrict workflow, so make sure you’re providing appropriate platforms for employee feedback.

5. Give them responsibility

An employee who only receives small, menial tasks is bound to get fed up with their role. Likewise if someone’s been overloaded with work they might struggle under the pressure. Try to delegate responsibilities that will add variety to an employee’s day.

6. Define their career paths

As well as developing your staff for progression opportunities, it’s important to show them where you think they’re headed and helping them get there. Regular appraisals and target-setting provide a good setting for this, and are also a good opportunity to review and praise your employees’ work.

Finding out how to motivate employees

Anonymous employee surveys are a good way of finding out the mood of your team. The results of the survey may highlight changes you need to make or bring to your attention any issues you weren’t already aware of.

You can also use appraisals as a way of finding out if any employees are feeling demotivated, but you might find they are less willing to say anything directly to you. However, it’s worth using the opportunity to ask what changes you could make that your staff think would improve productivity and morale.

From a candidate attraction point of view, a big benefit of taking the time to find out what motivates your staff is that it will help your reputation as an employer of choice. Job satisfaction is high on the list of priorities for many job seekers.

http://www.michaelpage.co.za/content/18808/how-to-motivate-employees.html
Images are courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How to Motivate Yourself to Exercise During Winter

Image Courtesy: Thinkstock

The dark and chilly winter mornings de-motivate you from getting up for a run or a walk. But you can’t just stop working out because the weather’s turned. 
Ziauddin Khan, master trainer, Talwalkars Better Value Fitness, says “It is crucial to improvise your workout routine and make it fun and exciting during the winter so that you do not stray from your goal.”

Choose a winter sport
The best way to work out in this weather is to choose a sport which is popular during this time. There are so many games that you can play, the  popular ones being badminton and cricket. 

Seasonal gear is important
As the season changes, we all tend to alter our wardrobe. You must do the same for your workout as well. Having appropriate workout gear that looks good on you and keeps you warm is a must. Not only will it keep you safe from getting a cold but also inspire you to work out during this season. 

Go off to bed early 
If you hit the bed early, you will also get up early the next morning. Ensure that you get enough time to rest so that you are ready to exercise the following day.

Warm-up is crucial 
Althea Shah, fitness expert, Gold’s Gym says, “A proper warm-up is important before you start exercising. Cold temperatures can make your muscles tight and therefore they are more prone to injuries.”  Warming up your body prepares itself for exercise both physically as well as mentally. Warm-ups 
concentrate on the muscles and allow them to stretch. 

Remember your goal
During the winter, we often feel lazy to wake up and keep postponing our workout. Plan your workout in a way that it keeps you feeling motivated. Don’t opt for something that you will not be able to follow. Altering your workout routine during each season will not only keep you going but will also ensure that you stick to your every day workouts. 

Opt for indoor exercises
The best way to stay encouraged to workout during the winter is by choosing to workout indoors. Usually when it’s foggy in the morning, going for a walk seems out of the question. Thus compensate your hour-long walk with a 45-minute of free hand exercises or an hour extra at the gym. This way you won’t end up feeling guilty or wasted. 

Don’t give up 
If you’ve missed your work- out or diet for a day, don’t allow it all away and binge. Accept that you’ve missed your target and have to work harder to make up for the loss the following day.

http://idiva.com/news-health/how-to-motivate-yourself-to-exercise-during-winter/18634

How to motivate unambitious husband

Interesting discussion - "How to motivate unambitious husband"
Is it possible?
Do you really need to do so?
What are tips and tricks?

http://www.loveshack.org/forums/romantic/marriage-life-partnerships/362812-how-motivate-unambitious-husband

What do you think?