How I Stay Motivated

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Motivation: the general desire or willingness of someone to do something.

A desire to be or do something at full excellence is a constant struggle in my life. No matter what season I may be in, finding the motivation to keep on and do well can get tough. Today in our society, motivation can sometimes be fleeting and not seen as a struggle for some. It is not always talked about but we should, because we all deal with times when the motivation has deteriorated and we are lost with no desire to continue.
I remember as a kid I struggled in school. Especially to stay motivated with actual school work. Most of the work took me 5 times more time, energy, and discipline. I refer to myself as the student who had to give 110% in order to make a B, sometimes an A in a class or on a test. I always felt like it took me twice as much effort than my friends. As I got older I started to see that motivation creep in more than anything when I played volleyball. There was nothing else that could keep as motivated as volleyball did. I worked so hard to continue to get better and better, I trained hard and did anything I could to improve. Motivation during volleyball set the tone for the way I stay motivated today.
There are so many ways to stay motivated but I wanted to share 5 ways that I have learned and that help me best.

1. Write out a list of goals

A list always does wonders. Write the things that you’d like to focus on for the week or maybe even the day. Make them intentional so that your mind stays fixated on them. Then work hard to stay focused on one at a time and maybe give yourself a standard for the day “I must be complete 3 out of the 5 things on my list” then you’ll have it ingrained in your mind that they need to get done.

2. Give yourself a pep talk

A little talk to pump you up by reminding yourself of the reasons why you are good at the certain thing you are trying to finish. This will then give you a little bit of that drive to push on. I am constantly giving myself talks. I’ve gotten really good at it over the years and it is something I think comes in handy. When you give yourself a pep talk, you are turning off that negative conscious that usually says “you can’t do it, just be lazy, don’t complete your list, watch some Netflix…” haha we all have those thoughts, right?!

3. Read Scripture & Pray

Allow the Lord to intervene by giving you strength and the right mindset to do well. I always feel so much more motivated after reading scripture or just talking to God about what I am struggling with. It really helps give this release in order to move forward. More than anything it pushes me to do well and set a high standard for the work I want to put in. There are so many stories in the bible that can be used to motivate us. Check some out!

4. Surround yourself with others who motivate you

In my opinion, this is the key to life in general. I’ve learned over the years that surrounding myself with the right people is so important for my inner being and mental state. It is finding that community of people no matter how big or how small, that support, encourage and make you better. The people that are around me motivate me to do my absolute best in everything in my life. Specifically during difficult moments or situations that I might need that extra boost.

5. Focus on the finish line

This last point really drives it home because a lot of people can stay motivated by thinking about “accomplishing that one thing.” A finish line crossed depicts that the job is done, the hard work has paid off and there’s a release; its time to relax, ahhhh! This is what I always look forward to; what I hold on to when the going gets rough and I don’t think I’ll make it. I just set my mind on the finished product; the satisfaction that I will feel when I’ve achieved something.

 

As I lean on these 5 tips, they help me remember what my ultimate goal and desire is in my life; to do things with excellence, to give it my all 110%! I want to be a person who has consistently progressed over the years. If you struggle with motivation like me, I want you to try some of these tips, really dig into how to stay motivated and figure out where that motivation comes from. We all want to continue improving as a whole in our lives, growing and reaching higher accomplishments, and sometimes it requires patience especially in a long season or situation that may take time. Be bold and courageous and reach out to a close friend or relative and ask them how you can help motivate them, and then tell them what you are struggling with! We all need those people who will be there for us during any period in life. Let us know your thoughts on motivation, or how you stay motivated in the comments below – we love hearing from you! -xoxo

 

“Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments

of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.”

-Roy T. Bennett

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Comments

  2. Great read! I struggled in college too, the same way. I had to work harder than others to get my grades. My learning style is different, but worth staying in it! The results of me not giving up are due to the motivational tips you gave!
    Thank you for motivating all of us to be the best we can be! God Bless!

    Reply

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