How to Foster a Motivated Mindset

Every one of us will find ourselves in a rut of boredom and disinterest from time to time. We appear to have lost our zest for life, feeling tired, irritable, and unmotivated. We'd rather hide under the covers than face the day. Perhaps you're feeling overwhelmed by work, sad about the world's pain and suffering, or bored with your daily routine.

You are not by yourself. We all go through periods like this at some point in our lives. The good news is that we can make a difference. Here are some ideas to help you get out of a rut and get excited about life again:

1. Take a "Time Out" - Prolonged stress can wear us down and sap our energy. Take a few minutes before doing anything else to breathe and BE. Remove all stress and worry from your mind. This takes time to master, but don't give up! As thoughts enter your mind, gently push them out while keeping your mind empty and calm. Take slow, deep breaths and relax your entire body. Sit quietly for a few minutes to recharge your batteries. Try to do this at least once a day, if not twice a day (morning and night). We require quiet time just as much as we need anything else in life. Give yourself the gift of inner tranquillity.

2. Be Inspired – Read something motivating, inspiring, or uplifting. View some stunning nature photography or read something amusing. Move your thoughts to a more positive place consciously. Focusing solely on work and our daily responsibilities can leave us feeling uninspired. It's simple to turn things around if we want to. We need to seek out something that will lift our spirits and improve our moods. Make it a point to laugh, be happy, be joyful, and be lighthearted every day. Instead of waiting for inspiration to knock on your door, go out and find it or create it. Bring to mind some fun or moving memories. Write them down in a journal so you can read them later when you're feeling down.

3. Get Excited - Remind yourself of the things you have planned for the day and rekindle your enthusiasm for them. When we first start a new project or a new job, we are ecstatic about the possibilities and eager to start! For a variety of reasons, we can lose our enthusiasm over time. For a moment, go back in time and consider what got you so excited in the first place. What caused your heart to race a little faster? Recapture and hold on to that feeling! Even if your tasks aren't fascinating, consider some of the advantages of completing them. List how they will benefit your children, spouse, yourself, your job, or your home, for example. Determine and concentrate on the payoff. Even the most mundane tasks can be beneficial. Sometimes it's just a matter of changing our perspective to see the bright side.

4. Baby Steps - Getting started can be the most challenging part. We cringe at the thought of all the time and energy we'll have to expend on a project that appears to be monstrous. Rather than overwhelming yourself, start small. Set a timer for 15 minutes and begin working on it right away. If you want to, you can stop after 15 minutes. But, most of the time, once we start working on something, we don't want to stop. Please don't get caught up in the big picture; instead, focus on the more minor details and tackle them one at a time. When we divide an enormous task into smaller steps, it becomes more manageable.

5. Body Care - Sometimes, our feelings of exhaustion are caused by physical deficiencies rather than mental deficiencies. Check to see if you're getting enough rest, eating nutritious foods, drinking enough water, exercising enough, and so on. We tend to grab the quickest, most leisurely meals, which aren't always the best choice for our bodies, especially when we're pressed for time. Consuming a lot of highly processed foods and sugar is analogous to putting watered-down gasoline in our cars. To keep our vehicles running smoothly, we must properly maintain them, valid for our bodies. Remember that the body serves as a vehicle for the mind and soul!

Finally, remember to treat yourself occasionally and to be gentle with yourself! There will always be tasks that "must" be completed. However, some of us take on far more than we can handle, and our lives suffer as a result. Try to get rid of things that don't bring you joy, or at least reduce the amount of time you spend on them. Do your best and let the rest go. Alternatively, seek assistance. Don't feel obligated to do everything on your own.

Keep in mind that motivation, like happiness, is something we CHOOSE. We may need to give ourselves a little push at first, but once we're in the right mindset, it's easy to stay there if we want to.