How To Motivate Yourself To Do Anything: 14 Smart Ways

In this new article you’ll learn how to motivate yourself to do anything.

You may find it difficult to take action when you need to do homework, approach someone you like, apply for a job, or pursue a passion that will follow you throughout your life. Fear and low self-esteem are common causes of procrastination, which encourages avoidance and even reinforces fears about your own talents and values.

To convince yourself to take action and overcome procrastination, you’ll need a few tactics. It’s time to believe in yourself, unleash your inner potential, and motivate yourself to take action.

How To Motivate Yourself To Do Anything:

1. Keep negative thoughts away.

Negative thoughts tend to focus on the worst case scenario. You may underestimate your skills or natural abilities to the point that you write yourself off even before you try, creating a vicious and self-fulfilling cycle of failure.

Focus on thoughts that empower you. Part of this process is learning to see the causes of negativity, “letting go,” and replacing negative thoughts with good ones. Instead of worrying about how the work will turn out, ask yourself why you are worried.

Is it a fear of failure? Once you have identified the cause, you will be better able to control your reaction.

2. Don’t be afraid of failure.

We all make mistakes. What’s more, we fail all the time. In fact, the most successful people are the ones who fail the most because they take the most risks and learn from their mistakes.

Consider Abraham Lincoln, who failed as a businessman, went bankrupt twice, and ran for election 26 times before discovering his political niche. Consider Thomas Edison, who was told by professors that he was “too stupid to learn anything” and was fired from his first two jobs for being “unproductive.”

To achieve important life goals, we must “unlearn” the fear of failure. One way to accomplish this is to try new activities—yoga, art, music—and train your brain by looking for failure in order to overcome it.

3. Eliminate the term “quitting” from your vocabulary.

Adopt a “never say never” attitude toward your goals and tolerate mistakes.

Theodore Roosevelt stated: “Nothing in the world is worth having unless it requires work, suffering, and struggle.” Remember that success should not come easily and that you are not entitled to it, and maintain a courageous attitude when you struggle or fail.

4. Don’t compare yourself to others.

Someone in the world will always be smarter, more talented, more successful, and more popular than you. There’s no point in judging yourself by their standards; it will simply dampen your enthusiasm and make you feel inadequate.

Recognize that you are the one making the comparisons and creating the feeling of inadequacy; it’s not them “making” you feel that way. Try reasoning this way. Similarly, you can develop a strategy to avoid comparisons. 

SEE ALSO: How To Share Your Ideas With Others: 12 Best Practices

5. Don’t worry about what others think of you.

Regardless of what others say, successful people have the courage to take risks. You may be holding back for fear that you don’t fit in with others, that your peers will distrust you, look at you strangely, or warn you that you will fail. They may be right.

But what if they are completely wrong?

Creating a hierarchy is one technique for sorting out such ideas. Make a list of the people whose views you value most: family, parents, spouse. Then, in descending order of importance, go down the list.

Your employer and friends should be less important than family, and co-workers even less. When you get to know casual acquaintances and strangers, you’ll realize that their approval doesn’t matter much.

6. Think about your motivations.

What are your plans? Do you intend to go to college? Do you want to move to a big city to train at your dream sports club? Analyze your goals. Understand what they are and how to achieve them.

Try to write down your ideas. What are your specific goals? When would you like to achieve them? What are your plans for achieving them? Also, develop a meaningful timeline. This will solidify your ideas and give you the motivation you need.

7. Have big dreams but use common sense.

If you have modest expectations (1), you can achieve your goals quickly without much effort. Bigger rewards come with bigger expectations, bigger goals, and bigger risks.

You might be satisfied with getting into a local university, but why not aspire higher? Could you get into a prestigious university and maybe win a scholarship? Give it a try.

The risk is small compared to the possible reward. At the same time, keep your expectations within normal limits. Childhood dreams of becoming a president, a professional athlete or a famous actress are unlikely to come true because only a small percentage of people achieve these goals.

8. Step outside your comfort zone.

Comfort can keep you from accomplishing great things. It’s easy to fall into a rut, a mental place where you feel comfortable, safe, and stress-free.

However, it can be potentially damaging. Risk and stress are two factors that can support our growth. While staying in your comfort zone can provide consistent, unchanging results, stepping out of it allows you to try new things and reach new heights.

Change the way you experience “discomfort.” Tell yourself that suffering is a need for progress rather than something to be avoided. The ease of doing things can be a sign of a settled routine.

SEE ALSO: How To Procrastinate Productively: The Ultimate 11-Step Guide

9. Take time every day for self-improvement.

How much time do you spend learning and strengthening your mental abilities? Do you know that this is a habit of successful people? Do you understand how valuable information is?

Another strategy to prevent complacency in life is to get fresh ideas and talents. Set aside time each day, even if only an hour, to enrich yourself—think of it as spiritual and mental nourishment. Read excellent books, newspapers, and inspirational videos; be curious about the world; and be interested in different ideas.

10. Take stock of your past accomplishments.

Instead of focusing on past failures, remember your past accomplishments (2). Write down in a journal the things you succeeded in doing so you can look back on them. Although you should focus on the present rather than the past, recalling past accomplishments can help you stay motivated.

11. Make a list of your goals.

Write down what your goals are and why you want to achieve them. Reminding yourself what they are for is a powerful motivator. Tape your goals on the wall in your workspace, on your computer, in your bedroom, or on the bathroom mirror. Keep them in a place where you are regularly reminded of them. This will help you stay focused and stay on track.

12. Break down goals into smaller steps if necessary.

One large, specific goal will drive you more than a series of smaller goals. On the other hand, a major goal may sometimes seem distant or impossible to achieve.

Don’t get overwhelmed. This mindset has been known to lower motivation and cause people to abandon tasks. When you are in this mood, break the goal down into smaller parts.

Focusing on small, tangible actions can help you gradually achieve the goals you’ve started.

13. Make a deal with yourself.

Chronic procrastinators may need stronger motivation. Set goals and reward yourself. Small or large rewards are possible. After doing some work, reward yourself with a little rest.

Did you meet your quarterly goals at work? That calls for a bigger reward: a free weekend to spend with friends. Try to use incentives that will keep you motivated.

14. Think about the best and worst case scenarios.

Consider: what is the best thing that could happen if you carry out your plans? What is the worst-case scenario?

If you are serious about achieving a goal, think about how much you can earn if you succeed and how much you can lose if you fail. Compare the two possibilities.

What can you expect when applying for a job at your dream company? What could happen if you don’t succeed? The worst-case scenario usually boils down to fear—fear of failure, rejection, or regret—while the best-case scenario offers very significant benefits.

Thank you for reading this article about how to motivate yourself to do anything and I really hope that you take action my advice.

I wish you good luck and I hope its contents have been a good help to you.

Przemkas Mosky
Przemkas Mosky started Perfect 24 Hours in 2017. He is a Personal Productivity Specialist, blogger and entrepreneur. He also works as a coach assisting people to increase their motivation, social skills or leadership abilities. Read more here