4 ways to increase motivation

Cultivating motivation is much the same as strengthening your muscles. You need to work them out via ongoing exercise routines, over time. Practising motivation regularly, leads to more of it - and doing so only takes a few minutes each day.

1. Watch your body language

There’s a wealth of information on body language and the importance of non-verbal communication, with regard to how we view others. However, research suggests that it’s just as crucial in determining how we feel.

If you’re slumped over the desk at work, for example, chances are you’re feeling pretty tired and uninspired. Sit up straight, push your shoulders back and feel how your body position immediately raises your motivation levels. Check in with yourself every hour, to make sure you’re utilising your body’s ability to determine your internal landscape.

2. Implement Positive Rituals

If we could all live on tropical islands with no schedules, chores, traffic or deadlines, it’d probably be easy to leap out of bed every day. In the absence of said island, creating positive rituals within your day to day routine keeps you motivated towards investing in the bigger picture. 

Do you love breakfast? Wake up earlier to indulge in a leisurely meal. Set aside time to read during your lunch break so you’re always looking forward to the next chapter. Jog to the park each morning and sip your coffee overlooking the lake. Walk on the beach in the evening. When the things you love to do are permanently prioritised in your life, your motivation will soar.

3. Always make a fresh start

A ‘fresh start’ doesn’t always have to be on New Year’s Day or tomorrow. You can give yourself a fresh start at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, or whenever you like. If you’re stuck on a project and out of ideas, leave it for half an hour to do something completely different. Tell yourself you’ll see it through brighter eyes on your return. Often, a short break away with the intention of starting new, feels like splashing your face with cold water. Which, by the way, is a great backup plan.

4. Face challenges head on

Nothing saps motivation more, than a nagging sense of fear or worry about overcoming a challenge. The more you procrastinate, the worse it gets. On the flip side, the more you put yourself in front of your fears, the better you’ll get at tackling them.

With practice, you’ll soon notice that you’ll automatically feel motivated, rather than frozen with draining indecisiveness. Then, you can keep leaping barriers, get to the other side quickly and spend more time having the inspiring life you deserve.