Go The Extra Mile.

STAY INSPIRED. BE TASK-ORIENTED, AND ULTIMATELY GET IT ALL DONE.

Whether it’s your bank account, shoe collection or kitchen utensil drawer, some of us just know how to get—and stay—motivated.

Do you ever wonder how some people always seem to have so many aspects of their lives in order? We all know these folks—they’re the ones who make the rest of us feel inadequate and, dare I say, envious of the way in which they present themselves to the world and the tasks they seem to be able to accomplish at lightning speed.

If you happen to be one of the people who aren’t innately blessed with a prescribed motivation button that is easily pressed, welcome to the club.

THE GOOD NEWS

There’s actually good news—any of these enviable skills can be easily acquired and sustained simply by following some key elements that are applicable to many aspects of life. Practice and follow the three steps below and unlock your Pandora’s box of anxiety-ridden chaos. Here’s how to motivate yourself into karmic resolution and stay there.

VISUALIZE

Start by picturing yourself having already completed the desired task. Very often imagining yourself three steps down the road will make it easier to actually get there. While you’re at it, list the benefits of completing the desired task. For example, if colour-coordinating your closet was the goal you set and achieved, what positive outcomes are you enjoying from having completed that task? (You’ve probably discovered long-lost handbags you once loved—bonus.) 

Perhaps you are now able to enjoy more time in the morning with loved ones instead of combing through the racks of a fabric dystopia. Now ask yourself if there are other related tasks you can complete with this first job done—success tends to be a domino effect. (In the case of your closet, if self-help isn’t enough of an impetus to improve, appeal to your philanthropic side and ask yourself who might benefit from a purged wardrobe.)

ACTUALIZE 

Create a to-do list. Some of you may instantly gravitate to your phones to create your checklist, while others write it on paper. (I prefer the latter, so I can stick it somewhere within my sightline and thus have a gentle reminder facing me until I complete the task and “allow” myself to indulge in the scrunching and tossing of the note.) No matter which you choose, think of a realistic time line in which to complete these tasks, then adopt a chunking method of task completion—don’t think of the entire project you must tackle, instead group it in stages so you avoid that overwhelmed feeling. 

HAVE AN ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDY

Inform a friend of the task or goal you are setting for yourself and keep them posted on your progress. In fact, encourage them to do the same. Sharing the specifics can be the catalyst to helping one act in a more efficient and timely manner, as well as generate some good ideas on how to arrive at the finish line quicker.

Plus, when we report to others, we don’t want to disappoint and therefore we make our goals an actuality. Now’s also a good time to pat yourself on the back—if you’re the type to post or tweet about your goals and the steps you take in order to actualize them, go for it. Positive feedback can often help keep you on track. 

Just as necessity is the mother of invention, motivation may as well be her sidekick. So, remember when trying to motivate yourself into completing a task, visualize, actualize and be accountable for the completion of the job.

Before you know it, you will no doubt be motivated by your own success at being motivated and already begin to conceptualize the next project/activity you wish to actualize. Since motivation and the tricks to staying in this state are actually infectious and contagious, don’t forget to spread your wealth of knowledge and share your experiences. This will help you sustain your own motivational process. 

WORDS BY TRACIE SOLOMAN

Read More Inspirational Stories