A simple guide to get motivated, or remotivate yourself along the way | Mental tools part 1

Today I want to share with you a mental tool, that helped me get motivated again and again. It is a simple, time-efficient, 4-step method that works better if it is written down each time we feel the need of an extra boost of motivation.

I think we all have mental tools whether we are aware of it or not.

And if we develop great tools, we can do great things. This works similar to physical tools.

Let's say that I give you only a hammer and a screwdriver and tell you to build a complete house. You would probably be able to build something that can be called a house but it will take you a lot of time and will most likely be ugly and a safety hazard.

What about if I gave you the same task but I let you use 10 high quality tools of your choosing? You would be able to build a better house in a fraction of the time. It is the same with mental tools, that's why some people seem to achieve more than others, even though they are not more intelligent or talented, it's just that they have more and better mental tools.

I will describe one of these mental tools below, but first we have to clear some things out, such as the importance of writting things down and the source of motivation.

Why should we write it down?

Let's remember that we are visual beings, if we can imagine something, we can better understand it. If we can see it, it gets clearer for us and it is easier to remember.

Given that we live in the information age, we are constantly bombarded with tons of information, so it gets difficult to keep a set of values or mental tools for a long time, unless we set up a system that reminds us constantly about a set of values or methods that we know are beneficial. That is why it is important to actually write this method down on a piece of paper or in a text editor.

When we write it, it gets more personal than just thinking about it. Because we are so used to block/avoid some thoughts, but if we write it we cannot avoid to actually think about it completely.

The source of motivation

The source of motivation comes as a result of only two perspectives:

1. Running from something. Motivation by negative aspects.
2. Aiming toward something. Motivation by positive aspects.
   That is it, all the reasons we get motivated by are derived at the core from one or both of those points.

Source: freeimages.com/photo/moving-forwards-5-1141707

The importance of starting

The hardest part in any project is the decision and action of starting. You know how it is, we can get a thousand reasons in our head why we cannot/should not start to do what we really want, but after we start we wonder why haven't I done this sooner. It is so easy.

From the Japanese comes a simple method of the 1-minute-rule and it goes like this: Start on your task/project and do it for just one minute. And the trick is that, if after one minute you do not want to continue then you should just stop. But the effect is that after you start, almost all of the time you would want to continue past the 1 minute you set. Thus you break the starting barrier. I will include this method as step 3 from the final method.

Start small :) Img source: freeimages.com/photo/hope-1-1307671

The motivation method/tool

1. Write down on a piece of paper or on a computer what are you running from. In other words, what is a good chance will happen if you do not start/continue on your task/project
2. Write down on a piece of paper or on a computer what are you aiming at. This is the thing/situation that will most likely happen if you start/continue on your task/project.
3. Write down what is the next step. You can make this as small as you want, like getting out of bed, washing, or read for 1 minute.
4. Do that step.

After #4 you have two options:
a. If you are motivated enough to continue, then go to step #3 again and the #4
b. If you lost your motivation along the way start with #1 then #2 and try to visualize both situations. If you write them down and you visualize it, then they will have a stronger motivating power.

Let's give an example

I want to start working on a new website I thought of, about plants, but I do not have enough motivation.
Below I will do this exercise with my fears, desires for #1 and #2, but you should use yours, as those are personal for you and that's why they will work.

Ok, let's start:

1. If I don't start I will feel bad for not investing time in myself professionally and only spend that time for others. If I don't start I will always have a boss that has some power over me(like Nick, you don't know him but it's someone I can use as a negative motivation) and as a result I will be more stressed.
2. I will feel better about myself, for having personal projects aside from work. I will improve with time and get more virtual properties. It will look good on my CV to apply for better jobs. I will learn new things.
3. Make a list with the pages the site will have
4. And here I make the list :)

The answers can be longer or shorter, but I hope you got the idea about how this is working.
Do this every time you feel unmotivated and it should work to get you starting/continuing on you tasks/projects.

Keep climbing :) Img source: freeimages.com/photo/lots-of-steps-in-stockholm-1208551

As a tip, you can have some general reasons for #1 and #2 and you can write them down and hang them in your room, so that you can see it when you wake up and just put things into perspective for you at the start of the day.

But the title says "mental tools", what gives?

Well, I know that you have to write it down which is physical, but most of the work is being done mentally.
And besides, after a while using this method, you might not need to write it down at all. You will have some general perspectives/reasons as a mental-reflex for #1 and #2 that you will always remember. So you will develop this ability (mental tool) where you can motivate yourself in under a minute. I find it preety cool and a little magical :)

Here is the short version:

This is part one from "Mental tools" series. There will be at least 4 parts, maybe more if there is interest.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave them in the comments.

Thank you for reading, I really hope some of you will try this tool and use it in your lives. I use it in mine.