Most people on this earth struggle with motivation, perhaps even on a daily basis. Sometimes we just don’t have the energy. Sometimes the tasks seem overwhelming. Sometimes we tell ourselves that we can put off doing the things that we need to do, that they are not necessary at this time. Whatever our excuse, it feels SO MUCH BETTER to actually make progress on our goals. Even if it’s just a short hedge path, doing something ALWAYS feels better than doing nothing.

In my years of experience dealing with the motivation / procrastination balance, I have come across a few tricks that help me do the things I need to do. May you find these tips as useful in your life as they have been in mine!

1. Get organized

Making lists of what to do can help you see if there is something you can take care of right away, or if you need to accomplish a few small things before you can tackle a more difficult task. It also makes your goals more manageable. Crossing something off my to-do list after I’m done is very satisfying.

2. Start something

Honestly, a few days after I get home from work, I just don’t feel like doing anything productive. The trick for me is to recognize the difference between being tired and being physically exhausted. If I am exhausted, it is better for me to rest and recover. If I’m just tired, doing something useful actually gives me more energy and boosts my morale. So I try to start doing the things that need to be done. The other day, for example, I really didn’t feel like cleaning, but my house didn’t agree. So I started with something that I liked to do, and before I knew it I was cleaning things without even thinking about it. I emptied the dishwasher. I cleaned the counters. Organize the pantry. I took out the trash and recycling. In fact, I was cleaning on autopilot, lost in my own thoughts and not even realizing how much work I was actually accomplishing, when just minutes before I was considering laying down for a quick nap!

3. Recognize your achievements

I think this is a really important step that many of us are guilty of missing. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we haven’t done yet that we forget to feel good about the things we’ve done. It is very important to recognize the positive things in our life, no matter how small they may seem. When we gain confidence by acknowledging what we have already done, it can give us the energy and motivation to tackle the most difficult tasks in our lives.

4. It doesn’t hurt to delegate

Sometimes we are so self-centered that we forget that it is okay to ask for help. It is definitely okay to ask your friends and family for help, and as long as you don’t ask too much, I promise you they will most likely want to help. Don’t put the whole load on yourself if you don’t have to!

5. The twenty minute trick

There are often times when the last thing in the world I want to do is the only thing I really need to do. For me, it’s usually about housework, paperwork, or making important phone calls. Then a friend of mine shared a tip that he found worked wonders for his own motivation: the twenty minute trick. The point is, it’s not that difficult to spend twenty minutes on a task. So when you can’t get started on a particular task, set a twenty minute timer. When that time is up, feel free to stop. You have worked hard and you have achieved a goal! However, many times I find myself ‘getting into the groove’ and don’t feel like stopping when the timer goes off. This trick has helped me get through many days without motivation!