CornerScribe

18 Great Tips to Get Motivated

Whether it’s editing your novel or scrubbing the toilet, there are things that you need to do, even want to do, but just can’t find the motivation to do. When you’re in that situation, what do you do?

1. Do it for five minutes. The key here is truly letting yourself off the hook after your five minutes is up. If you know you’re going to force yourself to continue, you just won’t start. After all, that’s the problem in the first place. The good part about this is that you at least get something done. If the task is small, you may even complete it. However, if you use this tactic too often, you may fool yourself into believing you’re “working” on a project when you’re not.
2. Envision it complete. How would it feel to finish up what you’re dreading? Take a few minutes and allow yourself to really feel those emotions. Close your eyes and visualize putting the finishing touch on the novel or sticking the dreaded tax forms in the mail. Use those positive feelings to push yourself to do it.
3. List the benefits. What benefits will you gain by finishing the task? You’ll be able to ship the novel off to an agent if you take time to finish it. You’ll be ready to write this weekend if you clean the house tonight. Let yourself get carried away if you want, but imagine all the good things that can or will happen because you finally tackled that project.
4. Recognize the price of not doing it. What happens if you continue to put it off? The work you’re editing gets “cold,” and you have a hard time getting back to it. The client doesn’t hire you again because you missed a deadline. The power gets cut off because you postponed paying the monthly bills. Sometimes consequences can be as motivating, or more so, than rewards.
5. Tell someone you’re going to do it. Announcing your plans can add a level of accountability that you may not already have, particularly if this is a task that no one else depends on your doing. Tell someone your plans, and ask them to check in on your progress.
6. Find a mentor. Sometimes finding someone who has struggled through the same types of projects can help you get motivated to do it too. The added benefit is that you can see how others have benefited from completing the task. If you don’t have someone to talk with, find an online group to join. Just be careful that you don’t spend more time talking about your project than actually working on it.
7. Reward yourself. Maybe the task is one that you particularly dread. It’s perfectly fine to give yourself a reward for finally doing it. If the job is long, give yourself small rewards along the way. Maybe you get half an hour of “me” time for every half hour you spend balancing the checkbook. Take yourself to dinner after each fifty pages of editing.
8. Punish Yourself. No, I’m not getting kinky. Maybe you won’t watch your favorite television show if you don’t spend at least half an hour on your e-mail. You’ll give up chocolate for a week unless you get that short story out before the deadline. While this technique can work for some people, others can find it even more demotivating. Use with caution!
9. Enlist help. There’s no reason you have to do this alone. Get someone to help with housework. Join a writer’s group to get feedback on editing your work. Offer your kids a some extra allowance to take on extra chores. Just because it needs to get done doesn’t mean you have to do it all.
10. Hire someone. Who said that you have to be the one to do it? If it’s possible, and you can afford it, hire someone to do some of the tasks you dread most. Many sites offer freelance help Elance is just one where you can post jobs and get bids from providers.
11. Get away from it. If you’ve been staring at the screen for a while, then get up and go outside. Do something different for a while may be just the thing to get you motivated.
    
12. Pick something easy. Choose a part of your project that’s easy to do, and tackle that. Spend a few minutes printing your story and gathering your editing materials. Do a quick pick-up around the house before actually cleaning. Sometimes the act of starting some small part of the project will encourage you to continue.
    
13. Reevaluate it. Does this really need doing at all? Do you have to read all those e-mails? Do the sheets have to be folded just so? You may be stressing over something that could just as easily be ignored.
14. Stop trying to be perfect. Often, our desire to be “perfect” can actually paralyze instead of motivate. While it’s great to work to do the best you can, realize that at some point you have to accept that it’s good enough. Don’t get stuck in a constant loop of perfecting and never finishing.
15. Focus on what you want. Stop focusing on your procrastination, lack of motivation, or dread of getting started. Instead, think of yourself as someone who does what you’re putting off. For example, don’t think about how you put off doing your finances. Instead, think about how you always keep up with your finances. If you start thinking of yourself as how you want to be, you’ll find that it’s easier to actually behave that way.
16. Make it fun. Have a contest with your spouse to see who can clean up his space faster. Put on your favorite music and kick back and relax when you work on your writing. Order great takeout and enjoy a meal while paying bills. Be creative and mix fun activities with those that aren’t so enjoyable.
17. Keep a progress journal. Remember getting stars when you did something good? Remember how much fun that was? Give yourself stars if you want, but you can use the general idea. Keep some sort of progress journal to track how well you’re doing. For every day you work on the task you’re avoiding, mark a calendar or jot it down in a notebook. Sometimes I give myself “points” for each day and buy myself something nice when I reach whatever goal I’ve set.
18. Bribe yourself. Set a dollar amount, and pay yourself that amount each time you work on your project. Put the money in a jar or even a piggy bank. Two things are important: pay yourself right away and pay yourself in cash. Both reinforce the reality of the reward. Use this money however you want; it’s your motivator.