Do you want to know how to get motivated to do the things you said you would? Like cooking your supper rather than ordering a takeaway? Or, doing that exercise class, even though all you want to do is go home and watch Fool Me Once?!
How To Get More Motivated
You’re Not Alone
We all feel guilty and disappointed with ourselves when we say we’ll only have 2 coffees today and then have 5 (or is that just me?). Or, that we won’t have crips and dip tonight, yet find ourselves popping into Asda on our way home.
We all wish we had more motivation to do the things we said we would. And you know what, you can train yourself to do more of those things.
You just need to learn what motivation actually is and how to make it work for you.
You just need to know that a lack of motivation isn’t a reflection of you as a person — how good or bad you are, how hard-working or lazy you are, or how productive or unproductive you are — but simply a reflection of an internal feeling you’ve got at a specific moment in time.
And because it’s a feeling — not a reflection of who you are — it’s something you can change with some simple tools and practical tips.
How To Get Motivated To Do What You Said You Would
The Problem With Motivation
The problem with motivation is that we’re all waiting around to feel motivated — because no one told us otherwise.
No one told you:
- Motivation is a feeling (and feelings are flighty little things — that change from moment to moment).
- You won’t always “feel like it”.
- Feelings can’t be relied on to get things done.
And maybe worst of all, no one told you how to get motivated when you want or need to. Or, how to shake an unmotivated feeling so you can consistently make progress towards your goals (and stop feeling so guilty and annoyed at yourself).
Let’s change that.
The Solution To Lack Of Motivation
A solution to feeling unmotivated you can always rely on is action — nothing big though. What you’re looking for, is the simplest 5-minute action possible.
In fact, anything more could demotivate you further.
Because, as you know, when you’re low on motivation, you’re not going to convince yourself to do something big, are you?
For example, when you’re not feeling motivated, you’re unlikely to persuade yourself to do a 1-hour circuits class.
On the other hand, 10 jumping jacks is probably something you can convince yourself to do.
Saying that I appreciate that you’re probably now thinking, “Yes, but what’s the point of doing something so small? What difference will a 5-minute action make when I said I’d do an hour?”
I get it, I used to think that too, and get asked that question a lot. So, keep reading to find out.
5 Minute Actions
So, 5-minute actions are easy to convince yourself to do, but what else?
Well, they also help you get out of your slump. And because you’ve done something, they make you feel slightly better about yourself — they remove some of the heavy guilty feelings you had — and make you feel lighter. They start a chain of momentum — because one 5-minute action, often leads to another, and then another.
5 minutes of doing anything slightly positive — of taking some small action towards something you said you’d do — gives you energy and makes you feel good about yourself. It builds confidence and belief within yourself. Because you made some progress — and you proved to yourself you could.
And, that tiny bit of progress is way better than no progress (and you know it) — so you feel this sense of lightness and inner pride for doing it.
Importantly, each moment of progress, adds up. Every 5-minute action adds up, and over time, you get the results you want.
5 minutes, plus another 5 minutes and so on, adds up to unbelievable results over time.
This is how to get motivated — and become the happiest, healthiest and most successful version of YOU — by doing a 5-minute action, then another, then another.
Lacking Motivation? Try This Simple Tool
The 5 Minute Motivation Trick:
- Grab a sticky note
- Write down something you can do in 5 minutes or less*
- Do it
- Celebrate**
- Repeat
*Did you know that simply writing down your 5-minute action can even give you the energy shift you’re looking for and start to get you motivated?
**Celebrate with a high-five to yourself, a pat on the back, or by saying “Woo, go me!” This last step is really important, so please don’t skip it. Celebrating creates a feel-good emotion within you — and this positive emotion gives you that motivated feeling.
You might like to think about it like this:
5 Minute Action + Celebration = Motivation
Teach Yourself To Be Stronger Than Your Feelings
It’s possible to teach ourselves how to be stronger than our feelings.
It’s possible to learn how to get motivated to do what we said we would.
And one of the simplest ways is by facing our unmotivated feelings with 5-minute actions.
Want To Get Motivated Right Now?
FOLLOW THESE 5 SIMPLE STEPS:
- Grab a sticky note or piece of paper.
- Think about the thing you want to feel motivated to do.
- Write down the smallest action you can do in the direction of what you want. Whether that’s a 5-minute walk rather than a 30-minute exercise class, getting a ready meal from Aldi rather than ordering a takeaway, or reading for 5 minutes rather than scrolling online.
- Stop reading this 🙂 and do your 5-minute action right now.
- Celebrate your success.
You’ll feel amazing, and so proud of yourself.
Personalised Support
If you’d like more help getting motivated to be healthier and happier, and think I could help you. Please join me for 1:1 Personalised Health Coaching. Places are limited, however, when you join the waitlist, you’ll be first to know when one opens up.
Learn more about Health Coaching, and if it’s right for you, by clicking here.
With love and motivation,
Becky x