How has your motivation shifted or been impacted by sheltering in place?

Is your work space perfectly quiet and tidy?
Are you still excited about a project you’ve been working on?
Are you a staunch guardian of keeping your priorities in order?
Do you have all the time you want and need to work?
Is there a limit on the amount of interruptions?
Is your focus intact so any distractions will be brushed aside without even a second thought?

If you were able to say YES to all of those questions, especially during COVID-19,  then you are my motivational hero.
 

For many of us right now, motivation appears to be an attainable trophy that is often within our reach – but slips so easily through our hands.

*big sigh*

Mistakenly, many of us feel we have to operate with 

• a strong work ethic,
• above average skills at buckling down,
• or the ability to keep our heads down and focused no matter what.

Here's the thing...that's not the way motivation works.

Keeping our motivation flowing and flexible requires self-compassion and the ability to give ourselves permission to go all in -  without expecting perfection.

To support our motivation we need to silence our inner critic, believe we can, and understand how we work best.
 

When I am  helping my clients get out of their own way and work on their motivation, I suggest they try 2-to-3 of the strategies from the list below.

Write 7 affirmations
Writing affirmations is a way to boost your confidence and self-motivation. Before the start of the week, write one affirmation for each day of the week so you will have one ready for each day. This may sound overly simplistic, and in many ways it is. The point is to have the affirmations ready when productive procrastination, negative ideas, and self-defeating thoughts show up. The affirmations will serve as a slight nudge to get you back to getting the right stuff done.

Acknowledge your accomplishments
We have big and large successes that matter to us, but we hardly take time to acknowledge them. Give yourself a minimum of 15 minutes each day to document your accomplishments. I encourage clients to use sticky notes to write down daily accomplishments (one accomplishment per sticky note) that can be posted in a spot they see all the time. The most popular locations are on bathroom mirrors, on a bulletin board, on the refrigerator, and in a journal. Having your accomplishments displayed will serve as a reminder that you deserve to invest in yourself to get closer to your goals. Looking at your accomplishments will shift your plans when you think productive procrastination is a better choice than doing what you know you should be doing.

Update your work space
If you are choosing productive procrastination over completing tasks, projects, and work that is a priority for you, change up your work space. Add more light, rearrange your furniture, get rid of clutter, and updating your décor are some immediate steps you could take. 

Shake up the format of your to do list
Writing down what you need to do is important to keep you on track, but a “to do” list with a long list of tasks can be very intimidating. I encourage my clients to set up their “to do” lists based on categories. Take a sheet of paper and create boxes based on the categories in your day-to-day life (e.g. book project, proposals, wellness, household, partner time, etc.). As you compose your “to do” list, write down your tasks based on each category. This will give you an idea if you have too much going on in one area. You can also assess if abundance in one category is causing you to yield to productive procrastination. Using this system will also give you the freedom to re-prioritize tasks, get the right help to get things done, or remove tasks that no longer fit your time or interest.

Work with an accountability partner
If productive procrastination turns out to be your kryptonite and you cannot release yourself from its grip, find an accountability partner. Seek out someone who understands how you think and work so they will not be afraid to push you in your right direction. It is challenging to be told to get back on our right track even when we know we need the nudge. Finding a good fit in an accountability partner will feel right to you if she can reference the goals you set for yourself, understand your productive procrastination triggers, call you out when you are making excuses, and nurture your motivation.
 

How do you motivate yourself?
What systems or tools are most effective at keeping your motivation reserves full?
What would you like to change or upgrade?
How can I help?

Check out this guided journal to help you release your stress. It's a free tool for the Bold Living Today community.