Create a Positive Environment

Music can be as powerful a motivator as motivational quotes. 
Each morning when you wake up, play a few pump up songs before you start your dh2>ay to get you going. You can listen to productivity music on Spotify to help you get going. By getting your mind in the right mindset, you can inch closer to motivating yourself. When I want to get in the zone, I listen to “Time” by Hans Zimmer, which has no lyrics but has an intensity which helps me focus. If I’m feeling like I’m in a rut, motivational songs like “You’re a Superstar” by Love Inc. picks me up.

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Celebrate Your Small Wins

When you think of your BIG goal, sometimes you start feeling overwhelmed. Why? Because big goals don’t get achieved right away. Instead, you need to create mini goals to help excite you along the way. This way you can be more goal-orientated and build a habit of being more effective. Celebrating your small wins will help you stay motivated through your journey. Plus, celebrating is always super fun. Maybe you break your goal down to 10 small-sized goals with tasks that get you on track to achieve them.
For each of the 10 goals you can add a small celebration. Maybe a glass of champagne for one or a dessert with a sparkler on top for another. Don’t forget to check out some of our motivational quotes about success in a later section. 

Surround Yourself With Motivated People

This goes back to the positive environment point: You need to be around others who are just as ambitious as you. American entrepreneur John Rohn once said, “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with it.” And whether or not that’s true is debatable, the reality is being around the right kind of people can only help you grow. 
If you’re surrounded by those who love your ambition, you’ll be more ambitious and achieve more. If you’re surrounded by loved ones who tell you your goals are stupid and tell you to change them, you need to avoid them.
Be around those who help you feel comfortable being the ambitious, go-getter you are, so you can become the successful person you’re meant to be.

How to Find Motivation

Just Start

Urgh. Don’t you just hate this advice? 
Still, there’s a reason we’ve all heard it a million times: it can work wonders.
You don’t always need to reason with your emotions or rationalize why you need to do something. You can deal with those negative feelings later on, at the right time. Instead, try setting aside all of the negative emotions and simply START.
As the famous writer Mark Twain once said: “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
Real Motivation: Mark Twain Quote

Break Tasks Down Into Small Steps

Woah… another piece of ground-breaking, never-heard-before advice, right?
Again, there’s a reason so many people recommend that you use this tactic when trying to motivate yourself – sometimes it’s the simplest things done well that work the best.
Remember, you can’t do everything at once. That’s why the painter Vincent Van Gogh said, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
Here’s a method to help you find motivation to get things done: Write down what you need to do on a piece of paper. Then, write down every single step you need to take to make it happen. Finally, ignore everything except the step you’re working on.
Once in the flow, you may just find it easier to continue with the next task.

Create a Positive Mindset

Getting motivated is almost impossible if you’re looking at the situation from a negative viewpoint. On the other hand, positivity can be energizing and help you to motivate yourself.
So, pause and ask yourself, “what’s good about this situation?”
As the author Catherine Pulsifer said, “If we have the attitude that it’s going to be a great day it usually is.”
Getting Motivated: Catherine Pulsifer Quote

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Create a Feeling of Gratitude

When you find yourself stuck in a rut, it can feel impossible to motivate yourself. So before you try to motivate yourself, take a step back and try to appreciate how you feel.
When you feel appreciation for yourself, it’s much easier to stay motivated.
One of the quickest ways to feel good about yourself is to practice gratitude – it’s almost entirely impossible to feel low and grateful at the same time.
To practice gratitude, start by writing down three things you’re grateful for. These could be anything – from your morning coffee, to your pet, or even the comfortable chair you sit on. 
Ideally, you could make this part of your daily routine to find everyday motivation.

Be Kind to Yourself

When you procrastinate or make a mistake, it’s easy to beat yourself up. In fact, if you’re like many people, you may find that you internally “speak” to yourself in a mean way. 
If you notice yourself doing this, pause and try to speak to yourself kindly instead. You wouldn’t speak to someone else that way, so why do it to yourself? You deserve your own kindness.
Try to remember your true inherent value as a human being. Then, allow yourself to gently come back to the task at hand.

Be Constructive

When you realize you’ve made a mistake or finally bring yourself back from a procrastination session, you have a golden opportunity to learn and improve.
Ask yourself, “Why did I make this mistake? How can I avoid making the same mistake in the future?”
If you do this and act on what you learn, you’ll transform mistakes into opportunities.
The entrepreneur Arianna Huffington said, “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.”
Everyday Motivation: Ariana Huffington Quote

Cut Your To-Do List Down

To-do lists can help us organize our tasks and focus on what’s important. However, they can also overwhelm us so much that we end up procrastinating even more.
So, if you find yourself struggling to stay motivated, cut your to-do list down to a more manageable size.
Each day, choose no more than three tasks and make that your new to-do list. Then, ignore all but the first item. You may find that with time, you can take on a longer to-do list.

Set Attainable Goals That Excite You

If you have a goal that feels too big or unattainable, it may make you feel crippled with anxiety and fear. This is a surefire way to prevent yourself from developing motivation.
For now, let go of goals that paralyze you. Instead, choose exciting enough goals to help you motivate yourself, but not so big that you freeze when facing them.
As the politician Theodore Roosevelt said, “Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.”

Imagine Your Future If You Don’t Change

This tip can make inspiring yourself easy: Instead of focusing on the change you want, imagine the life you’ll have if you don’t stay motivated.
Ask yourself, “What will life be like in one year, five years, and ten years?”
Here’s a motivational quote from an anonymous wise person: “You can either experience the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The choice is yours.”
Developing Self Motivation: Unknown Quote

Reflect on How Far You’ve Come

How often do you pause, reflect, and appreciate how far you’ve come?
If you’re like many people, you probably don’t give yourself enough credit for all the growth you’ve gone through.
Take a few minutes to close your eyes and remember your successes, however small – relive and feel into them.
Do this often to help you stay motivated.

Remind Yourself of Your “Why”

Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook, said, “Motivation comes from working on things we care about.”
Take a moment to write down three reasons you want to find motivation to get things done. Do you want to improve your fitness, get an education, save money, or start a business? 
Why?
Keep coming up with answers until you find ones that will help you stay motivated.

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Eliminate Distractions Mercilessly

Distractions are the enemy of focus. If you want to get motivated, you have to eliminate distractions.
As the billionaire investor Warren Buffett said, “The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say ‘no’ to almost everything.”
The saying goes, “You can have anything you want. However, you can’t have everything you want.”
So, turn your phone off and leave it in a different room. Close the door. Turn the music off. Delete distracting apps. 
Remind yourself that you are not punishing yourself – you’re just focusing on your goals. Then, remember what you truly want in the long-term.
Inspiring Yourself: Warren Buffet Quote

Commit 100% to the Deal You’re Making

Remember, nothing comes for free.
When you want something, you have to give something in return – whether it’s time, effort, hard work, or emotional discomfort.
That’s the deal.
Take a moment to recognize and appreciate the deal you’re making. Then commit to it 100%. Maya Angelou, the activist and poet, once said, “Nothing will work unless you do.”

Declutter and Tidy

It’s extremely difficult to motivate yourself if you can’t see your bedroom floor and your desk looks like something has exploded on it.
Have you ever heard the expression, “tidy space, tidy mind”? 
What’s your environment like? Is it tidy, neat, and clean? Or is it messy and cluttered? Work from the outside in and create an environment that helps you to stay motivated.

Change Your Inputs

You know the saying, “you are what you eat.” And we consume a lot every day – food, music, podcasts, TV, social media.
So, if you’re finding it challenging to motivate yourself, mix things up a bit. Listen to motivational podcasts, check out a must-read book, or watch some inspiring videos.
This can help you to freshen up, get energized, and find motivation to get things done.

Look to People in Your Life for Motivation

Some people energize us, others we find draining.

The motivational speaker Jim Rohn said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

So, when possible, seek out enthusiastic, motivated people to spend time with. Let yourself get wrapped up in their positive energy, and you may start developing self-motivation, too.
Things that Motivate You: Jim Rohn Quote

Ask for Help From Friends and Family

If you’re really struggling to motivate yourself, consider asking a close friend or family member for help. You could ask them to hold you accountable and check up on your progress.
By expressing your goals out loud to someone else, it can help to make them feel more real. Plus, if you know someone will check in on your progress, you may be more likely to follow through.

Follow Inspiring People Who Motivate You

There are so many inspiring people out there who can help you to motivate yourself. Is there an entrepreneur, teacher, musician, or politician you find inspiring? 
You can also learn how people you admire stay motivated, and then apply the lessons to your own life.

As the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates once said, “Smart people learn from everything and everyone, average people from their experiences, stupid people already have all the answers.”

Motivational Things: Socrates Quote

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Listen to an Upbeat Song

If you need to motivate yourself quickly, try this super-simple tip: listen to a song you love that’s upbeat, inspiring, and full of energy.
For bonus points, dance like a crazy person at the same time.
Then, as soon as the song finishes, don’t pause – dive straight into action. It may become one of your favorite ways to stay motivated.

Remember Your Power and Potential

Look, you are powerful, and you have enormous potential. 
You may not feel like it sometimes, and you may even feel like I’m silly for saying it to you, but it’s true.

The author Alice Walker said, “The most common reason people give up their power is because they think they don’t have any.”

So, please, take a moment to dig deep and try to connect with your inner power and potential – imagine what you could achieve.

Become still. 

Then listen to that quiet voice in your head saying, “You can do this.”
Getting Motivated: Alice Walker Quote

How to motivate yourself when you are depressed

Strategies for Boosting Motivation When You’re Depressed

Depression is a common mental disorder. It’s estimated that 16.2 million adults in the United States, or about 6.7 percent, experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2016.
Symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe. They can be chronic, or they can occur as one-time episodes caused by traumatic life events such as a death or illness in the family, the ending of a marriage, or financial difficulty.

Symptoms of depression include:

• reduced interest in activities that are normally pleasurable
• insomnia or increased need for sleep
• lack of appetite or an increased need to eat, leading to either weight loss or gain
• restlessness, irritability, or lack of energy and fatigue
• trouble concentrating and attending to usual tasks
• poor self-image
• suicidal thoughts

If the thought of doing anything seems overwhelming, start small. Set small, manageable goals. As you meet these goals, you can start adding more on top of them until you ultimately achieve all of your goals. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Get out of bed and out of pajamas

The simple act of getting up is a good first victory of the day. Leave a few sticky notes with positive affirmations where you can see them, such as: “Yes, you can do it,” “Every long journey starts with one step,” or “Never give up!” Your brain digests whatever thoughts you create, so feed it positive ones.

Go for a walk

Exercise helps your body release endorphins, the feel-good hormones. Exercising for at least 35 minutes a day, five days a week, can improve symptoms of mild to moderate depression. It may also help treat more severe forms of depression.
In another studyTrusted Source, four weeks of aerobic training were found to improve symptoms of depression.

Get your hands dirty to get a mood lift

According to a studyTrusted Source with mice, a certain type of bacteria found in dirt (Mycobacterium vaccae) may enhance the production of serotonin. Serotonin in turn helps decrease the symptoms of depression.
Bacteria found in fermented foodsTrusted Source, such as yogurt, can also enhance moods by reducing anxiety and potentially improving symptoms of depression.

Don’t overschedule

If you can only accomplish one or two tasks, that’s fine. Congratulate yourself for every task or goal you complete, no matter how small. That will help improve your confidence and sense of motivation.

Stick to a routine

The sense of having accomplished daily tasks will promote a sense of well-being.
Write down your routine, stick it on the wall or somewhere you will see it, and use check marks when you’ve completed tasks. The sense of having accomplished daily tasks will promote a sense of well-being and inspire you to aim higher each day.
You could also keep a journal as part of your routine. Journals are a good place to dispose of negative thoughts and make room for the positive.

Socialize

Choose positive relationships, encourage people to socialize with you when you feel up for it, and give volunteering a chance. Helping someone in need will improve your mood and increase your motivation to get out of bed the next day.

Create a support network

Have a support network on standby for when your motivation runs out and you feel overwhelmed. Choose people you feel comfortable talking to and who can help provide encouragement.

Get enough sleep

Depression can be physically draining. Sleeping too much or too little affects your mood. Aim for eight hours a day.

Ways to Get Things Done Despite Depression 

Depression can sap your motivation to perform even the simplest of tasks, let alone tackle bigger challenges. Research shows that depressed people have a harder time finding motivation to go to work, go out with friends, even clean the house.
One way to be productive despite depression is to see depression as a habit, says Joseph Luciani, PhD, a psychologist in New York City and the author of Self-Coaching: The Powerful Program to Beat Anxiety and Depression. Viewing depression as a tendency rather than an illness puts you behind the wheel, so to speak, and may help you change your life. Here are 10 ways to find inspiration to take on daily life... despite depression.

Avoid Feeding Your Depression

Feeding depression creates a snowball effect: For example, if you throw a few crumbs out on your balcony or sidewalk, a few pigeons will show up. If you keep throwing out crumbs, by the end of the week a multitude of pigeons will have flocked to the area. Similarly, depression thrives on doubts, fears, and negative thoughts — which feeds more depression. Learn to identify the negative thoughts and worries that are fueling your depression so you can replace them with positive, more realistic thoughts.

Focus on What You're Doing

Stay focused despite depression.Depression causes you to be absorbed in your own thoughts. To counter this as you go about your daily routine, focus your thoughts on the outside world. For example, when you wash a dish, feel the water on your hands and listen to the dishtowel rubbing the plate. "By focusing on the outer world with attention," says Luciani, "you're really teaching yourself to let go of that inner 'gerbil wheel' where you are spinning depressive thoughts."

Live in the Moment, live well with depression

Regretting events in the past or fixating on unknown challenges in the future can overwhelm you. Both habits can keep you from being active in the present. Instead, give your full attention to where you are in the present moment. When you open your curtains in the morning, take note of the sunshine streaming in. Don't immediately start worrying about work or other aspects of the day to come.

Counter Depression With Exercise

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), getting regular physical activity can make you less likely to develop depression. Exercising three to five times weekly for 30 to 60 minutes can provide mental health benefits because exercise is a good way to get "out of your head" and focus on moment-to-moment sensations, such as your breathing and movements.

Savor Small Successes

Many people with anxiety or depression stop trusting their own judgment. You can learn to take action when you're depressed by developing more trust in your instincts. Strive to make choices, even if that's as simple as choosing whether to buy chocolate or vanilla ice cream. As you gain the confidence to act rather than stew over your decisions, you'll get back in the habit of living your life instead of being absorbed in depression.

Do Something

Try to stay active, even if that only means doing simple activities. Just getting up and walking outside lifts you out of the inertia of sitting at home indefinitely. "Simple successes begin to build confidence, and it's the small successes that begin to encourage more daring attempts later on," Luciani says. Similarly, instead of thinking about taking on the full scope of a large project, focus on just one small piece to get started.

Maintain Relationships

When people are depressed, they often become isolated and shut off from their friends and family. As you strive to do normal activities while you’re depressed, staying socially connected should be part of your efforts. By getting out and being active, you’ll be focused on an important goal, and your loved ones can also offer support and encouragement.

Avoid Perfectionism

You may have heard the saying "Perfect is the enemy of the good." It means that if you're focused on doing something flawlessly, you may not ever begin. People with depression often feel as if their actions must be perfect or else they've failed. Not only does this prevent them from getting started, but it can foster continued depression. When you're working on motivation during depression, allow yourself to accept less-than-perfect results.

Set Your Messages Aside

A common symptom of depression is difficulty concentrating. If a constant flow of e-mails and phone calls is interrupting your train of thought, you may be diverted from the more important tasks you need to accomplish. If this is a challenge for you, resist the urge to constantly check your e-mail, and allow your phone calls to be handled by voicemail. Set aside several times throughout the day to respond to these messages.

Delegate

Although you want to stay active when you have depression, having too much to do can sometimes be overwhelming. When possible, ask co-workers or family members to take on some of your tasks if you have too much on your plate. For example, ask your spouse for help with housework, or get suggestions from your boss on how to tackle a big project at work.

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