Case
Well-known member
I want to know what you do (or have done) to stay motivated to complete tasks and reach goals.
I have not been successful at self-motivation. Truth be told, if I am left to my own devices and a low priority task awaits me, I will almost always put it off. For example: When I come home and there are dishes in the sink, since I live alone, NOT doing the dishes will literally affect no one but me. No one else will see them, so if I decide to skip it and do something else, my mind justifies this as okay.
Only, it's not okay because it builds a habit of laziness.
Going over the tasks I have completed, I learned that my motivation is often tied to fear. When I had a job, I'd diligently wake up, shower, shave, dress, eat breakfast, and drive to work because I had a fear that failing to do this would seriously threaten my livelihood. Translation: No cash in my bank account.
But when it comes to my personal life, I have no way to instill that fear in me because my mind can easily override this. Now, knowing that fear is a primary motivator for me to get things done, what am I to do when there is no one around who expects me to get something done?
Yesterday, I met with one of my closest friends who I had not seen in months. My friend and I have the same motivational problems. She also tends to fall back on procrastination, and she felt that we could help each other.
Last night we made a deal. We both want to see a particular movie on Thursday, so we made a date to see this movie, but only if certain conditions are met. We both have things we need to get done: Household chores, exercising, and other things that will improve our lives and make us feel better.
Each of us listed the things we need to get done between now and Thursday, and we made a vow to text each other every day to gently nudge the other into doing these things. The kicker is that the movie on Thursday will be cancelled if we do not finish these tasks.
Now, I have the motivation I need. If I don't do what I told her I'd do, I will feel embarrassed, and the fear of having my friend think poorly of me motivates me to get off my ass and get honeysuckle done. I also want to see the movie, so it motivates me to text and call her to see if she's gotten her honeysuckle done. Finally, the fact that there is a reward tied to it gives us a positive goal to strive for. The ultimate goal of this is to develop a motivation where I no longer need fear to do something. Hopefully, my motivation can be the joy of finishing the chore or project itself.
So, what have you done to motivate yourself to do those things in your life that you put off for no other reason than laziness?
I have not been successful at self-motivation. Truth be told, if I am left to my own devices and a low priority task awaits me, I will almost always put it off. For example: When I come home and there are dishes in the sink, since I live alone, NOT doing the dishes will literally affect no one but me. No one else will see them, so if I decide to skip it and do something else, my mind justifies this as okay.
Only, it's not okay because it builds a habit of laziness.
Going over the tasks I have completed, I learned that my motivation is often tied to fear. When I had a job, I'd diligently wake up, shower, shave, dress, eat breakfast, and drive to work because I had a fear that failing to do this would seriously threaten my livelihood. Translation: No cash in my bank account.
But when it comes to my personal life, I have no way to instill that fear in me because my mind can easily override this. Now, knowing that fear is a primary motivator for me to get things done, what am I to do when there is no one around who expects me to get something done?
Yesterday, I met with one of my closest friends who I had not seen in months. My friend and I have the same motivational problems. She also tends to fall back on procrastination, and she felt that we could help each other.
Last night we made a deal. We both want to see a particular movie on Thursday, so we made a date to see this movie, but only if certain conditions are met. We both have things we need to get done: Household chores, exercising, and other things that will improve our lives and make us feel better.
Each of us listed the things we need to get done between now and Thursday, and we made a vow to text each other every day to gently nudge the other into doing these things. The kicker is that the movie on Thursday will be cancelled if we do not finish these tasks.
Now, I have the motivation I need. If I don't do what I told her I'd do, I will feel embarrassed, and the fear of having my friend think poorly of me motivates me to get off my ass and get honeysuckle done. I also want to see the movie, so it motivates me to text and call her to see if she's gotten her honeysuckle done. Finally, the fact that there is a reward tied to it gives us a positive goal to strive for. The ultimate goal of this is to develop a motivation where I no longer need fear to do something. Hopefully, my motivation can be the joy of finishing the chore or project itself.
So, what have you done to motivate yourself to do those things in your life that you put off for no other reason than laziness?