“MOTIVATED, MOTIVATED! DOWNRIGHT DEDICATED!” A chant that my division back in boot camp ingeniously coined. A lot of memories retained from those trying days but none more so than our battle chant. I remember pushing myself to accomplish any task that had been ordered. Some days I wish it was the drive that I had that I retained the most. For most, keeping motivated to accomplish a task can be draining and monotonous. We loose focus and the urge for completion. We find distractions to ease our mind and take us away into a less stressful situation. We become lazy and complacent.
Does this sound even slightly familiar. The truth is, we all find ourselves in this slump from time to time. We decided to take the back seat and watch life pass us by. We watch those around us accomplish what we set out to do, all the while we seem to be unable to detach ourselves from the things that are keeping us stationary. We tell ourselves everyday to get back on track and keep going but end up letting another day conquer us. That’s the fact. We should be the ones conquering the day and resting at night on a bed of accomplishment. We forgot about what pushed us out in the first place and why. So how can we motivate ourselves to get back out there?
- DON’T LOOSE SIGHT OF YOUR GOALS – If we forget why we tasked ourselves to take on our specific endeavors then the drive for accomplishment will seem more like wasted energy. Keep your goals present and known at all times. Find pictures of your goal(s) and pin them up around your home and office. Make screensavers, ringtone, comedic voicemail greetings, anything, you name it. Never forget what motivated you in the first place.
- CREATE A PERSONAL SCHEDULE – Sounds simple enough when said, however, it takes dedication when applied. It starts with what time you decide to wake up. Wake up at that time every single day (yes, even days off). Ask yourself, would you rather wake up for work or for yourself? The way I see it that extra time you spend on yourself in the morning before work marks the end of your day. Other events can be worked in and placed where you will allow it. Always make sure you give yourself the time you need to accomplish your goals.
- MAKE YOUR DISTRACTIONS HARDER TO ACCESS – Whether it be video games, your cell phone or computer, try to use some of the programming to your advantage. For example, video game consoles will allow you to customize user accounts so that you may restrict game play to time of day and how long. For the mobile devices pick a specific spot in your home that is out the way but can still be heard. Remember, out of sight, out of mind.
- CELEBRATED EVEN THE SMALLEST VICTORY – Don’t take your own work for granted. Let’s say your writing a book and when you first started you were knocking out whole chapters every other night. However, a couple of weeks later, you have slowed down to a page a night. Don’t worry! PROGRESS EQUALS PROGRESS. Whether it be simply updating a webpage, completing a paragraph in your writing, or even setting up the paint and canvas for the next day, it only seems like nothing if you belittle your progress. No matter how big or small the task celebrate and allow yourself to feel accomplished.
- KEEP CHIPPING AWAY AND STAY POSITIVE! – Even if you think you are at a standstill with your work, find something that will help you progress. In most cases, there is always something to be done, new skills to learn, knowledge to obtain, and research to be performed. If need be create a list and make it a point to mark off one line item a day. Stay focused and use some good ole fashion positive reinforcement. Celebrate all your victories and treat yourself. Be positive about your work and tasks and you will be able to create a pattern of accomplishment. Never allow yourself to become critical about the work you are doing that it begins to allow negativity to take over. Fight through it and get it done.
Theses tips and skills have helped me time and time again to get back on track. I hope that it will serve you , the readers the same way.
“Motivated, Motivated! Downright Dedicated! Ready to Fight! Ready To Kill! Ready to Die but Never Will! Hooyah! Hooyah 234!”
–division 234 , USN
