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52 Easy Yet Highly Effective Ways to Motivate Yourself

Ways to Motivate Yourself

52 Easy Yet Highly Effective Ways to Motivate Yourself

Ways to Motivate Yourself
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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

Ways to Motivate Yourself
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1 / 50

Close your eyes, and visualize yourself reaching your goals.

Close your eyes, and visualize yourself reaching your goals.
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2 / 50

Try something new today.

Try something new today.
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3 / 50

Take a walk in a park, and let nature reset your mind.

Take a walk in a park, and let nature reset your mind.
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4 / 50

Make a to-do list.

Make a to-do list.
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You'll feel encouraged as you cross off items.

5 / 50

Get more sleep.

Get more sleep.
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Sleep deprivation could be making you less motivated.

6 / 50

Drink coffee for a quick jolt.

Drink coffee for a quick jolt.
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7 / 50

Start exercising, and you'll feel like yourself.

Start exercising, and you'll feel like yourself.
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8 / 50

Take a small step.

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.

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.

Have a reward system, so you'll have something to look forward to.
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11 / 50

When doing a task you don't want to do, play energizing music to help you get through it.

When doing a task you don't want to do, play energizing music to help you get through it.
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12 / 50

Get the hard stuff done first thing in the morning.

Get the hard stuff done first thing in the morning.
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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.

Prepare early so you're not in a rush.
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When you're late all the time or feel rushed, this may stress you out and kill your motivation.

14 / 50

Push yourself.

Push yourself.
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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.

Set a deadline for a task to spur you to get it done before the time is up.
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16 / 50

Focus.

Focus.
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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.

Get a friend to join you to make whatever you're doing more enjoyable.
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18 / 50

Clean up your home or your workspace, and you'll feel like you can get more done in a decluttered environment.

Clean up your home or your workspace, and you'll feel like you can get more done in a decluttered environment.
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19 / 50

Let go of your fears, and you may feel brave enough to take on challenging tasks.

Let go of your fears, and you may feel brave enough to take on challenging tasks.
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20 / 50

Eat right.

Eat right.
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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.

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.

Do something you enjoy when you first get up.
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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.

Share your goals with others.
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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.

Fake it till you make it.
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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.

Focus on the positive instead of the negative, and you'll feel more inclined to start new projects and take risks.
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26 / 50

Bring light into your room.

Bring light into your room.
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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.

Find out what it'll take to get there.
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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.

Encourage others, and you'll automatically start seeing encouragement from them in return.
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It's a cycle of positivity!

29 / 50

Don't compare yourself with others or you'll get discouraged.

Don't compare yourself with others or you'll get discouraged.
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Compete against yourself.

30 / 50

Have realistic expectations.

Have realistic expectations.
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Know yourself and how far you can go.

31 / 50

Stay excited.

Stay excited.
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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.

If you fail, pick yourself up and keep going.
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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.

Keep track with a journal.
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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.

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.

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.

Place motivational quotes around your home and workspace.
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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.

Volunteer.
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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.

Dress to impress yourself.
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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.

Write down a few things you're grateful for.
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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.

Reflect on the times when you worked hard and succeeded at your task.
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41 / 50

Remind yourself that it's better to try and fail or succeed than living with regrets.

Remind yourself that it's better to try and fail or succeed than living with regrets.
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42 / 50

Give yourself a pep talk, and tell yourself that you are awesome.

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.

Drop the projects that you might not be totally committed to and focus on the ones you're really passionate about.
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44 / 50

Tell yourself that nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

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.

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.

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.

Turn it into a challenge with a time limit.
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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.

Set your alarm clock to remind you when it's time to start on your task.
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49 / 50

Find something you truly enjoy, and do it.

Find something you truly enjoy, and do it.
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Pick up a hobby or start a collection, and it'll make you excited about life.

50 / 50
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