It’s normal to need a bit of a boost after you’ve been working on something for a while. External motivators like money and praise can only go so far — they’ll kickstart you at the beginning of your journey, but they won’t carry you to the finish line. You’ll need a strong inner drive when the world throws obstacles your way. These are my five favorite ways to strengthen my inner drive when I need some self-motivation.
Journal regularly.
You’ll have to work to create a habit of this one, but it’s worth it. Journaling isn’t just a good way to document your journey; it’s also a way for you to mind dump all of your crazy thoughts and feelings on paper so you can focus on the stuff that really matters. You can write down your goals in your journal, list things you’re grateful for or record what you’ve done throughout the week. Had a bad work day? Vent about it — your journal won’t judge. Did something inspire you? Write it down to save for later! Once you’ve journaled for a while, you’ll find you have a clearer head, and you can flip back through the pages (or Word documents) to reminisce later on.
Be involved in your community.
Whether it’s personal or professional, being a part of a community is a great way to strengthen your inner drive. A group of like-minded people will have your back when your motivation begins to slip. A supportive community will also pump you up and get you excited to work, not just help you grudgingly push through your to-do lists. Networking events within your industry, co-working spaces and groups or even an online business forum can be a fantastic help if you need some work-related motivation. When you want to…