8 Powerful Ways to Boost Your Motivation for Success

We all have our moments of weakness, armed with a plethora of excuses. We’re too tired, too busy, or simply don’t feel like doing what we need to do. Sometimes these excuses are valid, but often, we’re just making them up. “I needed to paint my nails before starting the cleaning! I can’t sacrifice half an hour of sleep to hit the gym. I really need another piece of chocolate to tackle this new project.” There’s no limit to our imagination when it comes to excuses. Even when something is good for us, we let our emotions get the best of us time and time again. To break the cycle of endless excuses, start with self-discipline. Use these strategies to energize yourself and take action.

Find an Accountability Buddy

Find someone who knows your strengths and weaknesses well, whose company you enjoy, but whose interests don’t overlap with yours. This friend will help you avoid falling back into bad habits. According to Robert Cialdini’s “Principles of Influence,” we perform better when surrounded by people doing the same thing.

A joint system of checks and reports is called a “buddy system.” The idea is to call or meet with this friend once a week to discuss what you’ve accomplished, set new goals for the upcoming week, and, of course, hold each other accountable. Ask them to join you for a morning run, check on your project progress at lunch, or collaboratively develop a meal plan for the week.

Motivational speaker Jim Rohn asserts, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Surround yourself with those who live the happy life you dream of.

Visualize Your Success

Create a mental map of your end result. Visualization helps you think about how energetic you’ll feel after achieving your goal! Mental imagery is a popular tactic in sports psychology used to improve performance. The U.S. Olympic team even has a team of special psychologists to help with visualization to boost confidence.

Celebrate Your Successes

There’s external motivation, where you work for a reward or to avoid punishment. But there’s also internal motivation, which boosts your natural desire to do something. Don’t overdo it and celebrate your success in a way that undermines all your work. After a productive morning, you can treat yourself to a 20-minute coffee break, not a two-hour YouTube binge.

Write Down Your Goals

Tracking and documenting your goals increases the likelihood that you’ll follow through. According to “Principles of Influence,” we’re more likely to get started on something if it’s tied to a written agreement.

Plan for Your Weaknesses

It’s important to study your failures to avoid repeating them. Identify your weak spots. If you find your workday draining because you’re not moving around, exercise in the morning. Honestly acknowledge your weaknesses and plan for them to avoid giving in.

Set Realistic Expectations

It’s good to be ambitious, but don’t set your goals so high that you’re bound to fail. Break down your dream into micro-goals. This approach will give you a sense of satisfaction as you complete each stage.

Add Some Fun

Motivational fun can mean running to your favorite track or working with someone you enjoy. The “Formal Theory of Creativity, Fun, and Intrinsic Motivation” suggests that fun is an inherent reward for work that increases internal motivation.

Collect Inspiring Quotes

Keep a collection of motivational quotes for when you need support. Reading wise words from people you admire can help maintain a good mood. Add them to your favorites, print them out, or write them on sticky notes and place them on your monitor, mirror, or fridge for visual support. Since meaningful quotes are linked to your emotions, they can help release dopamine, the brain’s neurotransmitter responsible for motivation.