7 Ways to Motivate Yourself

By Andrew G. Rosen, On Wednesday 22 June 2011, 22:01 SGT

Whether you're looking for a new job, trying to make your current one better, or planning a career transition, you'll need a healthy dose of motivation. Without discipline and will, your dreams and ambitions never come to life, turning even the best intentions into dust.

Here are seven ways to motivate yourself, so you can pick and choose the ones that work best for you:

Find the why. When we set out to do something, it's important to keep the why in the front of your mind. Are you looking for a new job because you dislike your boss? Need more money? Want a shorter commute? Getting where we want to go can be a long journey, so never forget what set you out on the road to begin with. Write down why you're motivated and refer to it often.

Look forward. Pretend you have accomplished your goal. For example, if your goal is to learn a new language to impress a girl, you need to consider if the task is worth taking on--what if she rejects you? View things from multiple perspectives and ensure you are taking worthwhile roads. Once you commit, put the negative scenario out of your mind and concentrate on how good it will feel when you succeed.

Just do it. There's a reason the Nike slogan has endured for more than two decades. In the Data Age, we have so much information available to us at all times that it's easy to get lost in number-crunching oblivion. But there's nothing like rolling up your sleeves and getting started. Think about it: A perfect resume is useless if you don't send out. You'd be better served sending out 10 resumes that are almost perfect than none at all. Rarely are actions an absolute waste of time.

Reward yourself. If your goal is to get a new job, you will need to take action to make a change. Set goals and share them with someone you trust so that you can be held accountable. For example, promise that you'll send out two resumes a week to relevant jobs. If you succeed, reward yourself with a predetermined item. Likewise, if you fail, be sure to carry out a predetermined punishment. Even if a project doesn't feel as if it's worth your time, make it your business to make it worth your time. Otherwise, getting started can feel impossible.

Think of someone you hate. We all know jealousy and hatred are ugly emotions, but unless you're a Buddhist monastic, they're also a reality. Why not turn something dark into a tremendous motivator? Image the person you dislike taking action while you rest on your laurels? Wouldn't you rather be showered with happiness and rewards? Push yourself to get started--today!

Give yourself choices. Negative self-talk is often a high hurdle we must clear to get ourselves pumped up to do something we dread. Remember: You don't have to, you want to. This simple thought-swap can make any task more palatable.

Break it up. What sounds easier? Writing 1,000 words in two hours or writing 125 words in 15 minutes? Breaking your task into smaller parts will help you get started.

Andrew G. Rosen is the founder and editor of Jobacle.com, a career advice blog. He is also the author of How to Quit Your Job and an established freelance blogger who is available for hire. Follow him on Twitter (@jobacle) or connect on LinkedIn.

http://www.jobacle.com/blog/2010/5/6/work-motivation-a-do-it-yourself-project.html

Work Motivation: A Do-It-Yourself Project
How to work for “The Man” While Working on Your Dreams!
Let’s face it; we work because we have to.

Because it’s the “grown-up” thing to do.

Because like many things in the grown up world, it’s a trade-off.

We sell our “dreams” for the “reality” of monthly mortgage payments, insurance premiums, car notes and the privilege of keeping up with the Joneses.

Given our druthers, most of us would much rather spend our days chilling out in our undies with a big bowl of cereal while surfing the Net, or reaching new tiers on our favorite video games, or vegging out in front of the boob tube, or “doing damage” at the local mall, or becoming beach bums, or building our own business, or almost anything else.

Almost anything else other than the slow death that is corporate America and working for the man!

But all is not lost. Just because your career path has led you on the road to perdition, doesn’t mean you have to continue on a path filled with bumps, roadblocks, potholes, and dark passages.

In fact, in order to forge forward and go the distance, you’ll need to make an important detour—a mental one that is.

Here’s why.

Many moons ago, worker bees were encouraged to give their best through employee incentive programs, bonuses and other perks.

Good bosses served like cheerleaders, and some were even role models.

Not so much anymore.

The current thinking of “the powers that be” is that your paycheck (and the thought of poverty) should be motivation enough to perform.

So workplace motivation has become a do-it-yourself project.

With this in mind, you need to learn how to get “fired up” before you get fired!

If you want to survive the workplace, keep your sanity in tact, and make your days a bit more bearable, here are some pointers to pull it off.


1. Always give your best, but never give your all. When you’re sick, take off and take care of yourself. When you’re drained, seek balance and rest.

2. Keep a positive mental attitude. Remind yourself of all the blessings that are brought into your life as a result of your job. It could be that it allows you to send your kids to summer camp, or that you’ve formed important friendships with co-workers that will last a life-time, or that you’re honing your computer skills and cultivating more marketable skills. Or that the cute guy in the corner office could be your potential “baby daddy.”

3. Don’t be bitter, be better. Take criticisms and negative performance reviews and use them to your advantage. Work on your developmental areas and let your next boss benefit from a better you.

4. Take mini “mental vacations.” Escape the madness. Take your lunch break away from your desk. Stroll through a nearby park. Get lost between the pages of a good book. It’ll rejuvenate your spirits daily.

5. Seek work that you enjoy. If you’ve gotta work, why not apply your time and talents to your passion? Having meaningful work that speaks to your strengths and interests is the best way to reduce stress and enhance your productivity.

6. Prepare for your “release date.” Update that resume. Polish your interviewing skills. Learn all you can. Set goals and a timeline to make a move. New horizons await you!

By following these six savvy tips, you’ll be able to bide your time with a sense of peace and a sense of purpose. Don’t let working for the man work on you! Any self-help job motivation tips you'd care to share?

This is a guest post by Jennifer Brown Banks, a veteran freelance writer and pro blogger. She holds a B.A. in Business Management. Visit her site @ http://penandprosper.blogspot.com/