So, you’ve lost motivation to keep going.
Hey, happens to the best of us. No one is ever going to feel 100% fired up all the time every day about their goals. You will have self-doubt, uncertainty, and countless ups and downs—it’s just part of the process. But what do you do when you feel like you’re losing hope and teetering on the edge of tapping out?
There are a few tried-and-true methods that can revitalize your sense of drive, momentum, and motivation. The best part is that these are simple strategies that don’t require much in terms of willpower or effort.
Keep reading to learn more.
3 Simple Tips To Regain Your Motivation To Keep Going
Many of the world’s greatest figures, from Nelson Mandela and Ralph Waldo Emerson to Mahatma Gandhi to Stephen R. Covey, have all mentioned the importance of persistence. The intrinsic motivation to keep pushing forward is essential in life. Here are 3 simple tips that have helped me and that I hope will help you.
1. Remind Yourself Of ‘Why’
“If you have enough reasons, you can do the most incredible things.”
— Jim Rohn
I have to be honest… I lose my motivation to keep going all the time.
But the most notable times when this happens have almost always been when I’ve forgotten what I’m doing it all for—when I forget my reasons. Your reasons are a powerful weapon. They are fuel when you feel your motivation levels drop or when self-doubt creeps in.
My most important goals are written out and taped to the wall in front of my writing desk.
What’s more, I’ve snapped a photo of that list and put it as a screensaver on my phone. Why? Because I want to be constantly reminded of what I’m aiming at in life and why those goals matter to me. This helps recharge my focus when I feel myself losing steam.
If you don’t have enough reasons to keep going, you’ll always find reasons to tap out. Successful people constantly remind themselves of their reasons, especially during tough times.
While it may feel like a difficult task at times, this form of intrinsic motivation will help you develop a growth mindset, blast through negative influences, and increase the likelihood of reaching your goals.
2. Set A New Personal Standard
“The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.”
— Ray Croc
3. Call It A Day
“Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted and no solutions are searched for.”
— Maya Angelou
When all else fails, it may be a sign to simply call it a day.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ll be the first person to tell you that consistency is king—that you need to lock in, commit, and show up every day for your goals. And this is true. You do need to do these things.
But sometimes that dose of motivation is not the proper diagnosis…
Sometimes you just need a moment to decompress…
Sometimes you just need to pack everything in, call it a day, and allow yourself to show up fresh tomorrow.
I’m not a mental health professional, but I do know that burnout is real.
And besides, when we’re talking about timelines of months, years, or possibly even decades (depending on the size of your goals), giving yourself a day here or there can alleviate some of that pressure on the proverbial release valve.
So, give yourself a day from time to time when you feel overwhelmed.
IMPORTANT: Again, I want to reiterate that you don’t want to let this tip become a pattern. Yes, sometimes you will need to just call it a day, but more often than not, you simply need to exercise self-discipline and push through. It’s crucial to make that distinction.
Otherwise, it becomes too easy to allow this tip to become an excuse for inaction.
Final Thoughts
Losing your motivation to keep going is natural.
It happens to all of us, even to me (a lot). Daily life is full of challenges that can knock you off course. However, you can get back on track with the simple, manageable steps I’ve laid out in this article. The key component is to actually implement them, though.
My challenge to you is to have a positive mindset and realistic expectations while injecting these tactics into your life.
