3 ways u can get motivated.

 

By Stephen Collins

Getting motivated and staying motivated can be a daily battle. Whether you’re struggling to find inspiration in your career, improving your health, taking on a house project or something else in your life, getting started each day can really be a challenge.

Find easy ways to get motivated — and stay that way — with these helpful tips.

Sleep

Sleep is key to many aspects of our lives, and motivation is no different. Sleep impacts our cognitive abilities, including memory and adaptability to our physical health and mood. It also has a huge effect on our energy levels throughout the day, an essential key to motivation. Do what you can to improve the quality of your sleep and prevent getting run down. Here are a few ways:

• Establish a routine, and start winding down early.
• Avoid eating a heavy meal before bed, and keep sugary foods and caffeine to a minimum at least three hours before bedtime.
• Adjust the thermostat in your bedroom to 65 degrees, the temperature most recommended for optimal sleep.
• Invest in some heavy drapes or high-quality blinds to block light from your bedroom.
• Turn off the TV and limit the use of your smartphone or tablet at least two hours before you plan to go to sleep.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests “thinking of a bedroom as a cave.” It should be cool, dark and quiet.

Accountability

Set yourself up to win by creating some accountability. Find an accountability buddy who you report to and who reports to you — it’s a great way to make sure you keep working toward your goals. And, your goals don’t have to be the same as your partners. But, it is important that you check in on one another regularly.
There also is some helpful technology that you can enlist AccountabilityApps.com, for example, can help you keep track of your commitments, with everything from work to money to friends and family.

Technology

If you don’t want to find an accountability buddy or you need some extra encouragement, look into some of the latest tech gear and apps to help you out. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

• Fitbit helps you stay motivated with your fitness goals on a daily basis.
• My Fitness Pal is a food diary that breaks down exactly what you are eating and keep you on track with whatever health and dietary benchmarks you set.
• Google Calendar can help you keep track of all of your appointments as well as remind you ahead of time when you need to get ready.

Remember, it’s the small things that add up to make big differences in your life, and staying motivated is part of that. It’s all about keeping your mind focused on what’s important. Post-it notes on the walls, vision boards in strategic locations and even the right music can add up to ensure that you stay motivated and make the most out of every hour you have.
About the Author: Stephen Collins was born in Phoenix, Arizona and has spent most of his life in the Southwestern United States, playing among the cowboys and aliens. This admitted lover of sci-fi and fantasy developed a passion for the written word early in life and began writing at a young age, mostly for the thrill and joy of the experience. He is currently working on his second book while continuing to weave his wordsmithing magic as a freelance writer.