It’s easy to talk about things like decluttering, finishing projects and organizing what we have so we’ll actually use it, but how to get motivated to actually do those things is another discussion.
The Struggle to Do What You Need to Do
I’m writing this post about how to get motivated for me as much as I am writing it for you. As I write, it’s the end of June, and there’s a long list of things I’d hoped to work on this summer that just aren’t getting done.
Most importantly, a round of cleaning in my office, finishing some projects and starting some other projects I’d like to have done in the fall.
It’s not that I’m not doing anything, or that the things I’m doing instead aren’t also important. It’s just that I find myself avoiding the things that I know I ought to be doing, and that in fact I want to be doing, or at least want to have done. And I think that second part is a key to motivation, at least for me.
What Will Done Feel Like?
I got to experience this first hand earlier this week when I did finish a couple of projects that have been on the mid burner for a while.
One of them is a patchwork dress that I’d had on my mind and even partly sewn for a while. I finally sat down and finished it and considered doing a video that would show me wearing it with the text “How long did it take you?” And the reply, “Oh, a couple of hours. And a couple of months I spent overthinking it.”
Because that’s really where I am right now in a lot of projects. I either don’t know how to get started or I messed something up and I don’t know how or don’t want to fix it right away. So many projects end up in time out for months when I could just deal with the problem right away and finish it.
Thinking about how it will feel to actually have the thing done, to wear the dress or experience the cleared off desk, can be motivating for actually getting started.
Tricks for How to Get Motivated
I will admit, though, that a lot of the things I think about when I’m considering how to get motivated are just tricks that sometimes work.
I love a to-do list, and I love marking things off, so putting those things I’ve been avoiding on the list sometimes gets me to work on them (so it was with the other project I finished this week).
Sometimes setting a timer will help. Working on a thing for 10 or 15 minutes sometimes motivates me to keep going, or to do the same thing again tomorrow.
Sometimes it doesn’t, but I’m still 10 or 15 minutes further along and that’s not nothing.
Having a rule like after lunch I’ll pick up five things, or before I leave the craft room I’ll put things away that I’m done with can also be helpful.
Or you can try doing a thing you don’t want to do or that you’ve been putting off first thing in the morning, or on a particular day. I had a bunch of appointments I needed to make and I hate phone calls so I decided one week that I was going to do it all on Friday. It took maybe 30 minutes and I got to ride that high all weekend.
I’m also not above bribery. If there’s something I want to do later, I’ll say I need to work on whatever project first. Or I can get a snack or take a break or whatever I feel like I need to do to get me through whatever it is.
Staying Motivated to Get Things Done
The hope is that all these tricks and ideas for how to get motivated will eventually turn into momentum that keeps you wanting to work on whatever the project is.
Knowing that it feels good to finish part of something that’s been lingering can give you the push to continue.
Every thing we don’t do that we feel like we should do takes mental energy, even when we aren’t aware that we’re thinking about it. Doing a little bit lessens that load. Doing a lot frees up space, time and mental energy.
And it reminds us that we can do things we set out to do. Which I think is especially important when it comes to things no one has asked us to do, things we’re doing just for ourselves. Whether that’s pursuing our art, finishing a project or clearing your space, it’s important to know that you will do those things for yourself.
And then see what you can do next.
Do you have any tips for how to get motivated and stay motivated on difficult projects? I know I need to hear them, and I’m sure everyone else does, too.
