It's that time of year when it is cold out and sometimes cold inside too. Finding motivation can be super hard work when all you want to do is snuggle under a duvet and put your woolly socks on.
But it doesn't have to be this way.
You too can get back on track, start the year with a bang, get on and get out. Don’t let the season get you down!
If you're feeling a little uninspired, here are some tips for getting your motivation back on track:
Make a list of your goals for the month. This is an easy way to keep yourself accountable for getting things done.
Write down what you want to accomplish in each day of the week—and then do it! Doesn’t have to be something huge, write down small accomplishments; it will be surprising how good this makes you feel
Be proactive about seeking out inspiration—it's out there! check out websites, Pintrest, YouTube (this can also be good for a quick fix laugh!)
Make sure you're getting enough sleep. If you're tired, it's hard to feel motivated, but that is not an excuse to hibernate and stay in bed all day! Get some quality sleep, keep your wake and sleep times roughly the same no matter which day of the week and keep to a bedtime routine (they are not just for the little ones!).
Set aside time each day for yourself—it doesn't have to be a lot of time, just something that makes you happy. Have a five min break, quick walk round the block, five-minute breathing session – anything that can break up the day and take a little time out for you.
Take a break from social media, at least for a little while. There's nothing wrong with taking a quick scroll through your newsfeed, but if you're spending hours on end scrolling through Instagram, it might be time to take a step back!
Make sure you're eating right—if you're not eating enough calories or nutrients, it can make it hard to feel motivated! Get a balanced diet and don’t just reach for the quick sugar fixes each time.
Exercise every day—even if it's just 10 minutes of stretching. There are loads of ideas on YouTube for 10 minutes of any form of exercise, even at your desk!
Stay hydrated—this can help with your energy levels, too! You don’t have to drink it all cold, herbal teas are a great way to stay hydrated and have some flavour!
If you're feeling unmotivated, don't worry about it—it happens to everyone. Take a break and come back to it later when you're feeling better.
Don't compare yourself to anyone else—everyone has their own struggles; embrace them, have a day off and get back to it the next day.
Inspirational quotes – find your favourite, print it out, put it on a notice board, fridge, on your desk, wherever you will see it on a regular basis. Have a few and then you don’t get bored. You could also have a scrolling set of quotes for your desktop.
Motivation jar – very simple. Take some motivational quotes, print/write them out on bits of paper, fold the bits of paper over and place in a jar. Can be a kilner jar, a jam jar, a box; container of any sorts so long as you don’t get your hand stuck in it. When you are feeling unmotivated, just take out a quote. To keep things fresh, put the ‘used’ ones to one side. If you don’t fancy making your own, you can buy them ready made!
Keep a gratitude journal. Write down each day three things you are grateful for. You don’t need a A4 planner or diary to do this, use a notebook, open a document on your computer, or even sticky notes that you can add to a board. Whichever works for you.
To round off, get inspired, get motivated, don’t get bogged down with others or drown your sorrows in social media and sugar. There is a whole world out there, go and find it.
