Popsugar Living Productivity Ways to Motivate Yourself 52 Easy Yet Highly Effective Ways to Motivate Yourself 23 January 2020 by Emily Co Image Source: Unsplash / emmamatthews New year, new you! If you can't seem to get yourself motivated because you're dealing with the Winter blues, struggling with work or life stress, or simply in a funk, take a deep breath and try to motivate yourself with these simple yet effective tips. Hit "refresh" on your life — you deserve it! — Additional reporting by Maya Berry and Tara Block Image Source: Unsplash / emmamatthews 1 / 50 Close your eyes, and visualize yourself reaching your goals. Image Source: Unsplash / seankkkkkkkkkkkkkk 2 / 50 Try something new today. Image Source: Unsplash / rawpixel 3 / 50 Take a walk in a park, and let nature reset your mind. Image Source: Unsplash / srosinger3997 4 / 50 Make a to-do list. Image Source: Unsplash / cathrynlavery You'll feel encouraged as you cross off items. 5 / 50 Get more sleep. Image Source: Unsplash / bekahrussom Sleep deprivation could be making you less motivated. 6 / 50 Drink coffee for a quick jolt. Image Source: Unsplash / rawpixel 7 / 50 Start exercising, and you'll feel like yourself. Image Source: Unsplash / matthewlejune 8 / 50 Take a small step. Image Source: Getty / d3sign You don't have to immediately immerse yourself in the project and see it until completion right away. Just make baby steps, and take it one day at a time. 9 / 50 Wake yourself up from your slump with a cold shower. Image Source: Getty / Chris Ryan 10 / 50 Have a reward system, so you'll have something to look forward to. Image Source: Unsplash / fancycrave 11 / 50 When doing a task you don't want to do, play energizing music to help you get through it. Image Source: Unsplash / kevin_1658 12 / 50 Get the hard stuff done first thing in the morning. Image Source: Unsplash / kylejglenn Once you're done with the most challenging projects, you'll be able to tackle the others with ease. 13 / 50 Prepare early so you're not in a rush. Image Source: Getty / 10'000 Hours When you're late all the time or feel rushed, this may stress you out and kill your motivation. 14 / 50 Push yourself. Image Source: Unsplash / rawpixel Realise that getting things done means giving yourself a little push sometimes. 15 / 50 Set a deadline for a task to spur you to get it done before the time is up. Image Source: Unsplash / rawpixel 16 / 50 Focus. Image Source: Unsplash / rawpixel Doing too many things at once can overwhelm you, so drop the multitasking and focus on one thing at a time. 17 / 50 Get a friend to join you to make whatever you're doing more enjoyable. Image Source: Unsplash / brucemars 18 / 50 Clean up your home or your workspace, and you'll feel like you can get more done in a decluttered environment. Image Source: Unsplash / rawpixel 19 / 50 Let go of your fears, and you may feel brave enough to take on challenging tasks. Image Source: Unsplash / bendavisual 20 / 50 Eat right. Image Source: Unsplash / thepaintedsquare Treating your body well will put you in a better place mentally. 21 / 50 Take a break to get some rest and recharge your mind. Image Source: Getty / Tony Anderson 22 / 50 Do something you enjoy when you first get up. Image Source: Unsplash / thoughtcatalog Whether it be drinking hot chocolate while reading a chapter of a book you're currently glued to or taking a hot shower, start your day off on a positive note. 23 / 50 Share your goals with others. Image Source: Getty / PeopleImages Being public about your goals will give you a sense of accountability, which may make you more inclined to get going. 24 / 50 Fake it till you make it. Image Source: Getty / SrdjanPav Act like you're motivated, and it'll become a reality in time. 25 / 50 Focus on the positive instead of the negative, and you'll feel more inclined to start new projects and take risks. Image Source: Unsplash / cajugos 26 / 50 Bring light into your room. Image Source: Unsplash / tomking Open up your curtains. Let fresh air into your room by opening up windows if it's not too cold and if it's not polluted outside. 27 / 50 Find out what it'll take to get there. Image Source: Unsplash / nickmorrison When you set a goal for yourself, begin by doing some research, and you'll be done with the first step. 28 / 50 Encourage others, and you'll automatically start seeing encouragement from them in return. Image Source: Unsplash / vincefleming It's a cycle of positivity! 29 / 50 Don't compare yourself with others or you'll get discouraged. Image Source: Unsplash / matheusferrero Compete against yourself. 30 / 50 Have realistic expectations. Image Source: Unsplash / morgansspace Know yourself and how far you can go. 31 / 50 Stay excited. Image Source: Unsplash / mertguller Experiment and keep coming up with new tweaks so you won't get bored. 32 / 50 If you fail, pick yourself up and keep going. Image Source: Getty / mapodile Don't let it derail you or cause you to lose confidence, which ends up affecting your motivation. 33 / 50 Keep track with a journal. Image Source: Unsplash / ana_tavares If you track your progress, you'll be able to see it, which will help motivate you to continue or try even harder. 34 / 50 Read biographies of the people you look up to for inspiration. Image Source: Getty / Scott Olson 35 / 50 Listen to motivation stories from audiobooks, TED Talks, documentaries, and more. Image Source: Getty / Manuel Velasquez 36 / 50 Place motivational quotes around your home and workspace. Image Source: Unsplash / emmamatthews They can come in such forms as a sticky note on your memo board, a note taped to your mirror, or an inspiring quote on a coffee mug. 37 / 50 Volunteer. Image Source: Unsplash / rawpixel It'll help ground you and make you realise that you're fortunate, so you should take the opportunity to make the most out of your life. 38 / 50 Dress to impress yourself. Image Source: Unsplash / beccamchaffie You'll feel like you can get more things done when you're putting your best foot forward. 39 / 50 Write down a few things you're grateful for. Image Source: Unsplash / neonbrand If you have a more positive mind-set, you'll find yourself more motivated and looking forward to what's in store for you. 40 / 50 Reflect on the times when you worked hard and succeeded at your task. Image Source: Unsplash / sarandywestfall_photo 41 / 50 Remind yourself that it's better to try and fail or succeed than living with regrets. Image Source: Getty / Flashpop 42 / 50 Give yourself a pep talk, and tell yourself that you are awesome. Image Source: Getty / PeopleImages 43 / 50 Drop the projects that you might not be totally committed to and focus on the ones you're really passionate about. Image Source: Unsplash / rawpixel 44 / 50 Tell yourself that nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Image Source: Getty / Tom Werner 45 / 50 Know that only you have the power to create your dreams and generate motivation. Image Source: Getty / d3sign 46 / 50 Write down where you see yourself in five years, and stick that note in a visible place. Image Source: Getty / Emilija Manevska 47 / 50 Turn it into a challenge with a time limit. Image Source: Unsplash / nicolehoneywill You can create your own or join an existing one. There are plenty of challenges that already exist out there, such as the NaNoWriMo, which challenges participants to complete a novel in a month. 48 / 50 Set your alarm clock to remind you when it's time to start on your task. Image Source: Unsplash / vorosbenisop 49 / 50 Find something you truly enjoy, and do it. Image Source: Unsplash / steve_j Pick up a hobby or start a collection, and it'll make you excited about life. 50 / 50 ProductivityMotivationWellnessNew YearHolidayPhotographyBikinisWomenMichelle Obama