It’s a beginning of a new project. You wake up early, full of energy, and you are ready to go. Hell, there's even a little pep in your step. But soon days go by, and the easiest of tasks starts to become burdensome. You start picking up other assignments, just so you don't have to think about the project anymore. In fact, the mere thought of having to do this task may just shut you down. The motivation has gone right out of the window.
It's an ugly cycle, and it's so easy to get caught up in it. Fortunately, the good news is, there's a way out of it. But before we get to that, let me show you some ways to stays motivated throughout a project.
It's inevitable that at some point in a new project or work assignment, you're going to lose steam. You're just going to get stuck and that will naturally zap your motivation. When you get into this situation, the worst thing you can do is take a break from your task. This is a killer to any productivity. Your mind enters a state of rest and relaxation, which ultimately leaves your work untouched and unfinished. More importantly, subconsciously you're going to associate this negative moment with the whole project. It just makes getting back to it that much harder.
So how do you keep the juices flowing and energy up? I find when I get into a situation like this, I need to focus on another small issue with the project. Something I can handle quickly and not really think about. Getting that fast win, eases my anxiety about the larger issue, and I start to enjoy the project again. Additionally, by working on a "mindless" task, I find that I often come up with a solution to my original issues (It's the same reason people have great ideas in the shower).
Welp, you've hit that brick wall and the motivation is gone. How do you get it back? The answer is, start small. A big reason people hate picking up projects is this mental image of just endless work. So rather than say, "I'm going to finish this task," make yourself work on the project for just 5 minutes straight. No distractions.
I personally use this method all the time, especially when writing these articles. I love writing, but getting my thoughts together, writing them down, rewriting them and then editing can be very un-fun. So to get myself motivated, I’ll grab a pen and paper, and just start jotting down ideas for 5 minutes. By the end of that time, I'll have my computer open and I’m writing for the next hour. You can use this method for anything. All it takes is a little nudge to get some big momentum.
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Article By: Tom Kieley
It's an ugly cycle, and it's so easy to get caught up in it. Fortunately, the good news is, there's a way out of it. But before we get to that, let me show you some ways to stays motivated throughout a project.
Staying Motivated
It's inevitable that at some point in a new project or work assignment, you're going to lose steam. You're just going to get stuck and that will naturally zap your motivation. When you get into this situation, the worst thing you can do is take a break from your task. This is a killer to any productivity. Your mind enters a state of rest and relaxation, which ultimately leaves your work untouched and unfinished. More importantly, subconsciously you're going to associate this negative moment with the whole project. It just makes getting back to it that much harder.
So how do you keep the juices flowing and energy up? I find when I get into a situation like this, I need to focus on another small issue with the project. Something I can handle quickly and not really think about. Getting that fast win, eases my anxiety about the larger issue, and I start to enjoy the project again. Additionally, by working on a "mindless" task, I find that I often come up with a solution to my original issues (It's the same reason people have great ideas in the shower).
Side Note: I don't want you to combine being frustrated with being tired. If you've been working on a project for hours, it may be that your out of energy. By all means, when you hit this point, take a break. Breaks, when the motivation is there, are vital to completing a project. Being burnt out is never going to lead to great work.Another great way to stay motivated during the task is to create a bigger meaning around the project. Think of the larger goal because it's not about completing this one assignment. It's that by completing this assignment, you can move on to another task, which allow you to achieve this great thing at the end. Honestly, attaching assignments to a larger mission is an effective way to stay motivated.
Don't Speak
There may be a more scientific reason that you're losing motivation and it's because you're talking too much about the project. You see, when we tell people we are going after a goal, it sends a signal to our brain that we've actually accomplished part of it. The chemicals released, give us a satisfied feeling. Unfortunately, satisfaction is the death of motivation. So next time you have a project you're excited about, try waiting until completion to talk about it.Rediscover Your Motivation
Welp, you've hit that brick wall and the motivation is gone. How do you get it back? The answer is, start small. A big reason people hate picking up projects is this mental image of just endless work. So rather than say, "I'm going to finish this task," make yourself work on the project for just 5 minutes straight. No distractions.
I personally use this method all the time, especially when writing these articles. I love writing, but getting my thoughts together, writing them down, rewriting them and then editing can be very un-fun. So to get myself motivated, I’ll grab a pen and paper, and just start jotting down ideas for 5 minutes. By the end of that time, I'll have my computer open and I’m writing for the next hour. You can use this method for anything. All it takes is a little nudge to get some big momentum.
About the Author
Tom is the creator of Fulfillingly. He absolutely enjoys giving people the tips and tools they need to find a satisfying career or dependable employee. Tom does this by combining years of experience with incredible outside sources.
Tom is the creator of Fulfillingly. He absolutely enjoys giving people the tips and tools they need to find a satisfying career or dependable employee. Tom does this by combining years of experience with incredible outside sources.
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