Life takes on meaning when you become motivated,
set goals and charge after them
in an unstoppable manner.
Les Brown
Keeping yourself motivated to be able to excel at your job or to be an example to your colleagues at work, should not be something you do only when the spirit moves you, but all of the time. It is an ongoing process that should include every facet of your business and professional life:
- your mental attitude
- your physical well-being and appearance
- your preferred work environment
- your interactions with others, customers and colleagues
- your off-the-clock environment
How do you do that?
1. Maintain a positive attitude. You have heard it said many times, and it is true. Life is only about 10% of what happens to us, and 90% how we choose to react to it. You alone are responsible for your own actions and attitudes, and changing them when appropriate. When you are around people/things that are uplifting and positive, you tend to feel that way too. You feel as though you have more confidence in yourself, and that you can change whatever needs changing. If you can infuse your workplace with positivity you will find that you have happier workers and higher production. You may even find your employees look forward to coming to work!
2. Leave personal troubles at home. Everyone has problems, but they don’t belong at workplace. Turn your attention and energy entirely to your on-the-job tasks. This will actually be good for you because you will get a much needed mental break from your home troubles.
3. Create positive affirmations. We have affirmations here on the site every weekend. Why? Because what your eyes see and your ears hear, your mind will believe.
Writing your goals out for your business is the same as creating positive affirmations on paper. Try it! After you have written them down, read them aloud to yourself. Do this every morning when you get into work. You will be amazed at what happens. Try to come up with a set of new ones every month. Use statements like, “I am an important and valuable person,” or “I know I will make the very best use of my time today.” Getting into the habit of repeating them out loud everyday at a set time will help reinforce positive actions.
4. Take breaks. And, make sure that the break times are actually break times. This is a place where most bosses and entrepreneurs stumble. You become so intensely focused on the project or situation you are working on that you forget to lighten up. You get caught in the trap of thinking that the issue will be solved in the next few seconds, and then you can take a break to get a cup of coffee. And the next thing you know it is quitting time, or beyond. Regularly adhering to a specified break time, even if you are the boss, releases a great deal of tension. If you work on a computer, this is an even bigger problem because before you realize it, you find that you have been working in the same position for hours. The best answer to this is to set yourself a reminder on your appointment calendar for every 2 hours, and let the computer reminder chime send you the alert to move around.
When I have a great deal of computer work to do, I use an old fashion kitchen timer- cheap and loud.
5. Get some exercise. I know that lately it seems that “exercise” is being touted as the cure-all to every physical or mental ailment, but despite all of the hype, there is some truth to it all. By “exercise” I am not implying that you should go out and join a gym and spend your lunch-time, 3-days-a-week there working out. Although, if that works for you, by all means, do it.
What is truly beneficial and workable for most people is that at those chiming alerts from your computer, get up and walk around your desk, office, room, or house. Consider going outside to get the mail and enjoy the sunlight, or just get up and do a few stretches. Concentrated and intense thinking make all of your muscles tighten up and knot up. Then when you begin to move, you “ooh” and “ouch” because you have been knotted up into a big ball of tension. Periodically stretching, even at your desk, or just getting up and walking over to your window and looking out at a different view can help a lot.
One of the greatest disservice modern business décor has given us, is making our space sterile, pristine, sleek, and unencumbered. There is often nothing more relaxing than getting up from your desk and walking over to a peaceful, serene, seascape or pastoral painting and just drinking it in visually. Momentarily transporting your mind out of work and into that place can work wonders. A few good paintings and lot less shiny chrome in offices would probably benefit us all.
It only takes a little concentrated effort on your part to keep yourself motivated and productive, which leads to success.
What helps you stay motivated on the job?
Photo Credit: Krissy.Venosdale via Compfight cc
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