- Shine a Light on Your Challenge - Write down your challenge on a piece of paper and examine it by asking yourself the following questions: Why am I allowing this challenge to prevent me from reaching my goal? Is the goal still something I really want to achieve? Am I willing to give up other things to achieve this goal? Every goal requires a cost. If I decided I wanted to become an Olympic runner, I would have to give up unhealthy foods, several hours a day for exercise and training, and my free time to compete in championships. Making a list of what you have to give up to achieve a goal helps you to be clear about what sacrifices have to be made to achieve your goal. If you are not ready to make the necessary sacrifices then that goal may not be the right one for you. Take the time to step back and decide what you really want. This reflection helps to improve motivation and the ability to create realistic goals.
- Think of Fun Ways to Beat a Challenge - Sometimes people just get into a rut or feel stuck. Looking at a challenge in a different way may help you to get unstuck. Asking yourself the following questions may help: List 10 fun ways to beat the challenge (no matter how ridiculous). List 10 intelligent ways to deal with the challenge? How would (fill in the name of an admirable/famous person) tackle this challenge? How can dealing with this challenge make be a stronger and better person later on? If I can’t tackle the problem or change it (for example – cancer) can I alter my attitude about it?
- Break a Challenge into Simple Manageable Tasks - If a challenge seems completely overwhelming try breaking it into simple step by step tasks. For example, a person may decide to write a book, but become completely unmotivated due to overwhelming feelings about the goal. That person could get motivated by setting smaller goals. For example, a good goal would be to write 5 pages a day for 2 months to complete a 300 page book. Breaking a goal down into simple tasks can help to improve work motivation, enthusiasm levels, and the desire to act on goals. Be Kind to Yourself - Learn to reward yourself for both small and large achievements. Make a list of goals and next to each goal add a list of motivational rewards. Then reward yourself upon achieving each goal. Rewards don’t have to be expensive. They can be anything from a manicure, to a weekend of golf, more time with friends, to adding $5 to $50 to a savings jar for a dreamed of material item or vacation.
- Step Back and Look at the Larger Picture - The last step to remaining motivated during a challenge is to step back and see the larger picture. Look at your current challenge and imagine it as just another moment in a precious yet relatively short life. Think back to other challenges that you have made it through. Gratitude also helps. Being thankful for what you do have helps challenges to seem relatively small when considering what challenges other may be facing.
In conclusion, work, motivation, enthusiasm, and a desire to act on goals can be encouraged even during challenging times through simple steps that help us to see our challenges differently. (Adopted from http://selfimprovementmotivation.org)
