Struggling to stay motivated during your work or studies? Don't worry - we've all been there. In order to get yourself back on track, it's important to figure out what works to gets you feeling driven to push forward and get on top of your tasks. 

We've compiled our top six tips to help you stay motivated. Check them out below!

 

1. Set your intention

Surely, we have all set goals, resolutions both small and big by this point in our lives and thought to ourselves “this is achievable, I can do this” only to find ourselves back to our old habits. This is all okay, in fact, it is a very human thing to do, we rise, we fall and we get back on our feet because we are naturally inclined to want to better ourselves.

In order to stay consistently motivated, first and foremost set your intentions. 

Be blatantly honest with yourself and clarify why you gave set yourselves the particular tasks or goals. Actions are by intentions. What is your intention? Why is that your intention? If it’s related to education, why are you studying? Why are pursuing this field in particular? Once you clarify your purpose and intentions, write it down in a simple and precise manner, print it out and stick it on your wall if you must or keep it on an easily accessible spot in your choice of technology.

When you’re lacking the motivation, revisit what you’ve noted down, it’s a simple method that will remind you why you started this and gives you clarity to persevere.

Remember, motivation does not come to you consistently, we are creatures of habit and you’re not always going to “feel like it” but you must push through and overcome the little obstacles that you are fully and unconditionally capable of conquering.

2. Set short and long term goals

Your purpose will naturally arise to surface when you have clarified your intentions, the next thing is to set long term goals. What is your own big picture? Write it down, then set short term goals on how to get there. Remember, it’s all about small and consistent effort, do not fall into the trap of setting mountainous goals because in the chance that you don’t achieve it, you’ll be sitting with the feeling of guilt which will do the opposite of motivating you. So start small, be consistent, slow and steady wins the race and this is your own race, do not compare yourself to others and go at your own flow.

3. Surround yourself with like minded people

Choosing to be around positive people who have similar goals and ambitions as you really makes a significant impact on your life. Their words, actions and conduct will subconsciously influence the way you think and act, after all our actions shape our lives so it’s worthy to pay a little more attention to the company you surround yourself with. Michael Dell at the University of Texas, summed it up perfectly in his commencement speech: “Try never to be the smartest person in the room. And if you are, I suggest you invite smarter people … or find a different room. In professional circles it’s called networking. In organisations it’s called team building. And in life it’s called family, friends, and community. We are all gifts to each other, and my own growth as a leader has shown me again and again that the most rewarding experiences come from my relationships.”

4. Reward yourself

Before setting yourself up to do something, prepare a reward system for yourself, it doesn’t have to be lavish, it can be simple and as small as sleeping in the next day or binging on extra ice cream. Make sure you honour the reward because the inner child in all of us will be raged when you don’t. Experiment with different reward systems to see what works best for you,  you will be more motivated to take on the next task as your brain has associated a reward scheme with completing tasks.

5. Work in intervals

Did you know that the most productive people in the world take a break almost every hour? I didn’t make that up, to be exact they work for 52 minutes and break for 17 minutes. In the Japanese culture, there’s a practice of Kaizen which is the idea of a 1 minute principle, you invest just 1 minute into any task which means no excuses. The task wont seem like a drag or unachievable, rather something simple that brings you joy and satisfaction once completed. When you’re inspired by this feeling, you will gradually increase the amount of time you invest and harvest good habits which leads to rewarding results. Another great routine is to do your mind and body a favour by going outside, moving your body and getting fresh air, it’s that simple. And there is a lot of good science behind it!

6. Be kind to yourself

I cannot stress this enough, I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by hard working people with strong work ethics. But I’m also a witness, a therapist and a friend to them when they come crashing down. It’s important to care about your work and it’s okay to feel stressed about it, some would even argue it’s a sign that you really care about work. However, caring about work doesn’t mean you should consistently over exhaust your energy and abilities. Be good to yourself, be kind and put yourself first in a reasonably balanced manner. By no means slack off, just give yourself a planned slack.  It’s all about learning the art of balance and no one can truly measure that for you except for you. So go on, put these tips into action - you will thrive.

Written by Fashion Business Alum, Faz Shukhrat 

Want to get to know the writer better? Find out all about her journey studying at The Masters here.