five steps to find motivation

Heya and happy Thursday!

Just one more day and we’ve made it to Friday. I’m particularly excited for this Friday because…

• I only work half a day
• We’re going to our first midwife appointment and getting to hear our baby’s heart beat for the first time
• I get more time (half day at work) with my man which always makes me happy
• And the weekend begins!

Are you excited for anything in particular this Friday?

Last night was my final sports training class I taught.  It was a lot of fun, especially because I realized we had a ladder, so I made sure to include that.  

Next week it switches to Body Pump! I’m very pumped (hehe) for that. We launch on Monday with an all day football themed event. It’s going to be a blast. I’ll be team teaching 2 classes that day and hope up snap a few pictures to share.

Finding Motivation

There are certain things in life I don’t need much motivation for.  Taking showers, blogging, working out, meal planning and making myself food to eat (I am never too lazy to do that).

Then there are things like cleaning, organizing, picking up after myself and whatnot that I lack serious motivation in.  Not only do those things bug me, they bug Jacob slightly (by slightly I’m sure I mean a lot). 

Sometimes I need help getting motivated and making priority shifts.  For you it could be working out, meal planning, doing laundry… whatever it is, it still starts with the same problem.

Lack of motivation. 

It’s not that I like being messy, I just have other important things I’d rather spend my time doing.  But I can’t just neglect those things I need to do, so it’s time to motivate myself.

Step 1: Write down what you need to do but find difficult to accomplish because of lack of motivation

Here’s my list:

• Make cleaner (it’s super easy) and clean the toilets + tubs
• Organize my desk
• Put my laundry away (both just folded + clothes laying around)
• Clean out my car (the garbage + junk)
• Update my recipe page + create a pregnancy page
• Write for the examiner

Step 2: Look at the next week or two (or month) and mark out some times each day when you can work on these items

Here’s the toughest part.  Making time for them.

Here goes…

Friday, before making dinner – update my recipe page

Saturday, first thing in the morning – organize desk

Sunday, first thing in the morning – write for the examiner
Sunday, during the day – make cleaner + clean toilets + tub

Monday, first thing in the morning – create a pregnancy page

Tuesday, before making dinner – put away laundry

Wednesday, before work and/or after teaching – probably still work on organizing desk + updating recipe page

Thursday, on lunch break – clean out my car

Step 3: Write them in and tell someone about your plan

Here’s a really important step.  Write it in, or at least write on a piece of paper (if not a calendar) when you’re going to do these things.  THEN tell someone about it.  I’ll be telling Jacob in hopes he will help keep me accountable and also encourage me if I start lacking motivation.

I also added it in to my iPhone’s calendar which is synced to Jacob’s phone so he’ll see the reminder when I do too.  Extra motivation people!

Step 4: Just do it

Now that it’s penciled/typed in, time to do it.  Just do it.  No excuses.  You’ve made the commitment.  You’ve figured out a time and told someone about it.  Just do it.

Step 5: Reward yourself

Here I think of pavlov’s dogs and the classical conditioning.  We want to reinforce our good behavior with a reward for a job well done.  Some people feel rewarded enough just by getting it done (me!), but others need a tangible reward for doing right.  Figure out what you’ll reward yourself with before you finish each task or all the tasks. 

I may reward myself with building a new light box + getting new fabrics.  We’ll see.  

Do you have anything you’re lacking motivation to get done?

Heather

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