Motivation is a difficult concept, especially self or internal motivation. It is easy to accomplish a goal or task at work, school or in any other setting when there is a clear and direct consequence for not completing a task. However, having to hold yourself accountable to a personal goal is much more complex because there is no immediate consequence. In these situations failure is easier because you really only have to answer to yourself and I know from personal experience it is much more simple to make excuses to myself. I don’t have time, I’m tired, other items of more importance came up, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
Over the past several days I have suffered from motivational matters and thought I could give up on the blog and no one would really know or care since I just started it. Actually, when I first told people about the blog I did get a response basically stating, “Great, another blog you will never update.” Since the precedent and opinion seemed to be that way, why couldn’t I just give up? Obviously (or maybe not so obviously) the overwhelming theme here is not the blog but my job search. It just seems like such a daunting task I get lost in all the different websites, groups, and information and frankly want to give up.
But I think combining the search with the blog will ultimately prove to be a constructive and smart move on my part. As I was struggling with the job search over the past several days and not adding any new posts, it wasn’t just me I was letting down but also those I asked to support me through this endeavor. That is key, because ultimately it is not just about me but also about my friends and family. So I am back at is, especially since I was able to get caught up on sleep, finish other tasks and restructure the importance of other items.
However, I do think I am going to re-think my weekly and monthly goals to make them more attainable. Seems to me I should not get de-motivated because I feel the tasks I have given myself are too daunting. Lastly, if anyone is reading this please share any motivational tools, writings, or practices you use to keep yourself on track.
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You need to first realize that you have a lot on your plate. You only have a limited psychological capacity and if you overwhelm it you will not want to do anything. You need to focus on only a handful of things and shed what is not as high priority. It is like having a cluttered desk. When you are trying to get work done at your desk your mental energy keeps getting drawn to the mess. If you need to find something on that desk for your task then you have to take energy away from the task to search for something on the desk. Make a list of your priorities, all of them in your life. Then begin ranking the list 1 through however many there are. Then take the top 5 and spend your focus there and take the rest and find ways to make them less of an issue in your life.
ReplyDeleteNext you need to refuel your mental energy every day. If you do not you will give until you are exhausted and want to give up. I choose to do this through reading stories of entrepreneurs that have overcome obstacles, motivational audio, the bible, books that teach me how I can reach my goals better, and my favorite music.
Next you need to get traction in something you find important. After work, go for a walk with the dogs. It will help you to get some exercise, you will bond better with your dogs so they will see you as alpha and behave better, it give you time to clear your mind and just think, and the cold weather will add just enough discomfort that will help to refocus your thoughts (it is like the freedom you feel from doing physical labor).
Finally, and most important. You need to figure out who you are. It may sound like a stupid question but if you do not figure what makes Jeremy tick you will always be trying to please someone else. There are certain things that you are drawn to. Once you find those things you will find that you almost go into autopilot because they are so natural. I am concerned that there is something you are going after that is not the right fit and it will be a total uphill battle if this is true. You need to begin to realize what things you are drawn to and ask why. Do you want to lay on the couch and do nothing? If so ask why, the answer is most likely not "I am tired" it may be something deeper "I do not have something to do that energizes me". Then you can ask what can I do that energizes me?
To Do List:
1. Make a list of priorities and rank them
2. Draw a line down a sheet of paper and on the top left write Likes and on the top left write dislikes. Start to fill in each column.
3. Begin to make a list of the things that you are naturally drawn to. Anything from playing on the internet, to spending time with Erica. Then ask why and keep asking why until you get to the root.
Josh Bulloc
Great advice from Josh.
ReplyDeleteI like the book "Eat That Frog" by Brian Tracy. He writes about the importance of prioritizing objectives and working your schedule. I have it if you would like to borrow it sometime.
Jacob Warren