Get Up You Sleepy Head!

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try." -unknown

"People often say that motivation doesn't last.  Well, neither does bathing-that's why we recommend it daily."  -Zig Zaglar

"I do not try to skate better than anyone else.  I only try to skate better than myself." -Mikhail Baryshnikov (only it said dance where I put skate)

Motivation is something that has 2 parts.  The first part is desiring a goal.  The second part is the energy needed to pursue and achieve that goal.  Motivation, unfortunately, is something many people lack.  There are techniques that can be used to motivate oneself or you can have another person motivate you through support and encouragement.

First, you need to realize and accept that motivation is important in accomplishing goals.  It will be hard to accomplish anything without motivation.  If you sit around a lot and don't get active, it's hard to get motivated.  So the first thing you need to do is GET MOVING!  Physical movements affect our mental state.  Make a fist and pump yourself up!

Second, set your goals.  Write them down.  Make realistic deadlines if necessary.  The first step is the hardest so just take the leap and gain momentum from that first step.  It will get easier as you go.

One way to motivate yourself is through pain and pleasure, believe it or not.  For example, if a person does not exercise and eat right, the pain associated with weight gain or health problems can be associated with not having motivation.  If a person takes care of themselves by eating right and exercising, they can associate pleasure with it by how good they feel and look in their clothes.

Rewarding yourself is a great way to increase motivation.  If you reach a milestone in your goal give yourself a treat.  This is something you might have to set up and write down so you stick to your plan.  Even the small victories deserve celebration.

Get rid of the negativity!  While I know it is not possible to get rid of all negative things in your life, if you make the effort to surround yourself with positive people and a variety of positive environments you will have an easier time achieving success.  Distractions should be kept to a minimum as well.

Music has a way of motivating people, and if your music doesn't motivate you, maybe it's time for a change in genre.  Find something that makes you want to bounce along.  Listen to it when you feel like giving up even if you're not in the mood to listen to it.  Music has a way of changing our mood sometimes.

It's hard to stay motivated if you're not interested.  Fake it 'til you make it.  Make a point to GET interested so you can get excited about what you're doing.

Finally, find a friend who supports you in your life.  Ask them to help you stay motivated.  It could be something simple like a weekly encouraging email to tell you how great you are and how proud they are of your accomplishments.  You can and will do great things!!!  Get moving!