This guest post was written by Omar Zenhom, entrepreneur, educator and the Founder of $100 MBA.
Hey Fire Nation! Are you READY TO IGNITE?
No?…
Do you need some motivating RIGHT NOW?
I MEAN RIGHT NOW!
Then you’re in luck. This post will give you 21 proven ways to get you FIRED UP quickly.
Let’s dive in!
Disclaimer: This post is extremely REAL and there will be some yelling involved. But heck, a little yelling never killed anyone.
The point of this post is to get your rear in gear, PRONTO! Once you feel pumped, get to work!
Don’t just read this and get back to your procrastination marathon. Take this seriously! It may take more than one of these to get you working. It may take 3 or 4 – but as soon as you feel inspired, get to work immediately. Then, save the rest for later. Yes, I’m actually asking you not to read through this whole post if you don’t need to.
Do you want to get productive and get stuff done right now?!
Do you want to stop feeling embarrassingly pathetic, pitiful and lazy? Then let’s get started!
1. GET UP
If you are sitting down, physically stand up right now. Get on your feet. Get the blood flowing. Move around.
Motion creates emotion.
2. Stop Complaining
Why? Well, not only is being negative the opposite of being motivated, but complaining is like a high-powered vacuum that sucks up any positive spirit you may have. When you complain, you focus on the negative, and inspiration can never come from that place.
Instead, focus on what you are grateful for. There is plenty… like the fact you even have something to work on.
In addition, complaining is for losers, and that’s not you!
3. Go for a 15-minute walk
If it’s cold, wear a jacket. If it’s raining, take an umbrella. Get some fresh air. Stop making excuses and just do it.
Going for a walk clears your head and allows you to see things with a better perspective. This really works if you are demotivated because you are feeling overwhelmed with all the work you need to do.
4. Crank up The MUSIC
Music has the power to alter our mood. Play your favorite playlist that gets you HYPED and play it LOUD!
Play some songs that were played during some amazing moments in your life, like a championship game you were in or a wedding or graduation party. Music plays an important role with our neuro-associations. By simply playing a song that was played during a high-energy time of your life, it can put you in the same exact state of mind. Be carful though, the opposite is also true.
Oh, and get up and dance! Why not?
5. Grab a pen and Paper
Write down all the reasons why you need to get the things you need to get done, DONE.
Think big picture: “If I don’t get these Podcast show notes done, then I can’t release this podcast. If I can’t release this podcast, then I won’t get the exposure I need to be successful so I can live the life I want already!”
6. Get face-to-face with your task
Shut off all distractions. Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin or any other social procrastination network you are apart of. Close your email. Close any notifications you have on your computer, iPhone, iPad, iWhatever.
A part of being motivated to work is getting focused. Having distractions and interruptions kills your focus.
Have nothing in front of you that is NOT the task at hand. If you need to write a post for your blog, have your text editor open and NOTHING ELSE. Insane, I know. But when you are face-to-face with your task and you start working, you’ll be motivated to crush it in minutes.
Trust me, this just happened to me when I started writing this post now.
7. Get MAD
Get angry at your current, lazy self. Get yourself worked up about how much you hate not being where you want to be, and how your lazy state is not helping your cause.
Don’t be self-loathing. The idea here is to be your own 10th grade gym teacher telling you to climb that rope!
8. Listen To This Story
Trust me. It’s amazing, and it will get you pumped to do what you need to do immediately.
If you want anything bad enough, you can make it happen.
9. Call someone who picks you up
Call a friend that always makes you feel good. Tell them what you are struggling with and they will give you a piece of their mind, in a good way! They will remind you why this is important to you and how you DO have what it takes to do this.
10. Read these quotes
Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right. – Henry Ford
The dreamers are the saviors of the world. – James Allen
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. – Aristotle
I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we become. – Oprah Winfrey
11. Read a few pages from War of Art
Steven Pressfield gave me the biggest kick-in-the-butt when I read his best-selling book The War of Art. This book will call you out on all your lazy excuses and get you motivated to tackle what-ever you are trying to accomplish.
Just a few pages will get you going and remind you that your art, your business, your work – is all worth doing and needs to get done. PRONTO!
12. Brew a Cup (or 2) of Coffee or Tea
Sometimes you just need a cup of your sweet elixir to get your mojo going.
13. Take a Cosmo Kramer Shower
This particular shower technique was made popular by the 90’s sitcom Seinfeld character, Cosmo Kramer.
Take a warm shower and then inch the water temperature to get colder and colder every 30 seconds until you’re taking an invigorating cold shower. As Kramer says “It will give ya a ZING!”
14. Look at these GIFs
A good laugh lifts the spirits and can give you boost of energy. Spending just two minutes to have a good laugh can make you feel reenergized and ready to get to work.
15. Look at Your Accomplishments
Read an old blog post you’re proud of.
Watch a video you shot that got some great comments.
Reminisce on your first sale.
Remind yourself that you are capable of great work and that all you need to do is… you guessed it! WORK.
16. Let Al Pacino Motivate You
17. Make a deal… with yourself
Promise yourself that once you complete the task(s) you have to do, you will treat yourself to an ice cream or one of those fancy frozen yogurts you crazy kids are eating these days.
18. Do the Easy Part First
Just get started. Even if it’s the easiest part first.
For example, with this post, I did the easiest part first: I listed the 21 ways, then I wrote about each one of them in a little more detail after that.
19. Give Your Self a Deadline; Make it Public
One of the most powerful motivators is a public deadline. I personally experience this in our launches.
No matter how small the task, put a deadline on it and tell others. Announcing it infuses the feeling of accountability. Something as simple as tweeting out “Releasing an amazing post on how to yodel underwater. Coming at you in 4 hours. Watch this space!”
DO IT!
20. Rock this Workout
Do the Entrepreneur Workout by Amy Clover. It only takes 5-10 minutes.
21. Act like it
If you don’t feel motivated, ACT LIKE IT. Funny thing is, within a few minutes you actually start to feel enthusiastic for real.
Physiology is powerful. Depressed people have their head down, their breath is shallow. Motivated people have their shoulders back and head up. Get in a motivated, physical state, and the rest of you will follow.
Well, there you go!
If you are still here, I love you, but please get to work. GO! DO IT! You deserve to make it happen.
Omar Zenhom is an entrepreneur and educator. He’s the Founder of Business Republic, where through his blog and services he and his team help others build businesses that can’t be ignored. His latest endeavor is an alternative business education called The $100 MBA – a culmination of his years in business and education.
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