There's No Secret To Waking Up Motivated--But This Gets Me Close
"Motivation doesn't last. Neither does a shower." - Zig Ziglar
2 quick ways to kill motivation?
Obligation and guilt.Do it because you care.Do it because you want to.That's way more powerful.And it turns out, it's way more sustainable.The only trick is that you'll need to remind yourself that you care.iOS reminders. Letters to yourself. A time capsule. Post-its on the bathroom mirror.There are a million ways--but you have to make it happen.You don't have to know all the answers right now.You don't have to have some giant epiphany.You just have to start reflecting on your values and interests.What do you like and what do you think is important?What do you find yourself NOT being able to stop doing?Start there and good things will happen.
2 Minute Action
It will take you 1 minute to write down 3 things you care about.It will take you less than 1 minute to ask Siri/Alexa/etc. to remind you about these in 3 months or to text a friend to check in on your progress in 6 weeks.The secret is that big things are actually made up of lots of small, actionable things.Everyone has 2 minutes. You can do this.
How To Get Out Of Your Non-Productive Rut
It's 5 AM.I have to catch a flight in an hour.I'm tired, groggy, and I'm about to work a lot of hours over the next few days.
I think to myself, "why am I here?"
I want to make a difference in kids' lives.I want to make this planet a better place.And when I remember my mission, it's a lot easier to get moving.When I remember my promise to myself and to the world, it's a lot easier to get out of bed and start being productive.If you forget your mission, it's easier to slip into a non-productive rut.Be clear about your mission and set reminders--and this will help you build a basic immunity to non-productivity and falling off the bandwagon.
2 Minute Action
Define:What is a goal you have and why do you want to achieve it?You may want to schedule an email to yourself, or write yourself a letter, or post a sign above your door with this "why" message to remind yourself when things get hard.Because it will always get hard and you'll almost always forget eventually.It's not about trying to make your goal NOT difficult--it's about remembering why you're going to follow through anyway.
Finally: The Source of Motivation Explained
It's like a shower.It's like brushing your teeth.It's like your morning coffee.
You've gotta do it every day for it to work.
If you wait for motivation to strike, you're going to be out of luck for a long time.The real-world lesson here is that it's up to you to understand what motivates and activates you.
My motivation comes from 3 main sources:
- An incredible sense of urgency to act now.
- Daily reminders like posters, automatic iOS reminders, and emails to keep the shortness of my life front of mind.
- An incredible sense of care for this planet and all the people on it.
Sure, we can talk about the personal differences that make my list different from yours, but that's not the point.The point is to take ownership of you motivation."I'm just not motivated" is an excuse that is totally within your control.
2 Minute Action
Maybe you already know what motivates or sustains you.If you don't, think of the last time you felt alive. What were you doing?When was the last time you felt the most dead inside?What's something that has bothered you about the world since you were a kid?Let's take these questions and turn them into action, today.You have more control than you think.You've got everything you need at your fingertips.