It is National Inventors Month, and believe it or not, you have the same number of hours in the day as Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison and Steve Jobs did when they came up with inventions that changed the world. Some inventions are a strike of pure genius and others a strike of pure luck, but either way, inventors motivate themselves to seek solutions to problems. If you find yourself lacking enthusiasm in your day job, side-hustle or personal life, here are eight ways to get more motivated.
How to Get the Job Done
- Find your inspiration. Work to discover the “why” behind your goals. Uncover an internal sense of purpose rather than external, like accolades, bonuses or promotions. You’ll be more driven to focus on something that has meaning to you.
- Create bite-sized goals. Staring into the eyes of a massive project can leave you wondering where to start, procrastinating beginning it at all. Break the one big goal into smaller ones that you can digest one at a time.
- Set a quit time. This idea is especially important for those working from home or launching a side-hustle. Choose the days and hours you will work and be responsive, and unplug the other times. You will be more motivated during your “on” hours if you are truly “off” for some of the time.
- Confront your excuses. If you believe your made-up reasons, you will never change. Are you really are too tired, or if you just want to watch TV instead? It’s okay to choose not to work sometimes to give yourself a break but course-correct if you continue to make excuses.
- Reward yourself. You are more likely to complete an unpleasant or difficult task if something you like is waiting for you at the end. This takes a bit of self-control but will help you check more goals off your list.
- Phone a friend. One tried and true method of accountability is having a friend with you who is going through the same thing. Whether it’s your work bestie, a workout partner or someone else starting a small business, talk to someone supportive about the highs and lows.
- Say no to snoozing. Getting a good night’s sleep is important for productivity. Do you find yourself slapping the snooze button on a regular basis? You could be wasting valuable waking hours. If you struggle to get out of bed in the morning, set an alarm across the room forcing you to get up to turn it off.
- Celebrate your achievements. Sometimes, people don’t stop to appreciate all they have done until the project is over. Take a step back and admire your work periodically, celebrating your progress. This is a great motivating technique to keep you going when you feel defeated.
We Found Our Inspiration
For 35 years, we have been a leader in identifying and developing high-performing individuals with our own invention, Performance Dynamics®. This assessment uses three personality inventories designed to identify 17 different traits that drive personality and behavior. We help people understand the “why” behind their actions and give employers insightful information about their employees or prospective candidates. Now, you can determine the reasons you may struggle with motivation and we can help you and your employer discover solutions to make you more productive.
Contact us to learn more about our proven methodology and test drive our invention.