1. Get a bulletin board or a dry erase
board and hang it up where you can see it often. Split it in three-creating three columns--with a black marker or some electrical tape. In the first column, write down your long-term goals. In the second column, write down the mid-term goals that will allow you to reach your long-term goals. Then, in the third column, write down the short-term goals that will allow you to reach your mid-term goals. That way, you'll be keeping your short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals at the front of your mind at all times.
2. Increase the rewards associated with your goals. Take a piece of paper, draw a circle in the middle, and write down your goal in the circle. Then, draw at least five thick branches coming out of the circle. At the end of each branch write down a reward that you'll experience if you achieve your goal. For example, one of your goals may be to run a marathon. The five rewards that you could write down are the following:
• I'll get to spend more time with my son who also wants to run a marathon.
• I'll develop more self-discipline.
• I'll boost my self-esteem.
• I'll become healthier.
• I'm running the marathon to help raise money and awareness for a good cause.
• I'll develop more self-discipline.
• I'll boost my self-esteem.
• I'll become healthier.
• I'm running the marathon to help raise money and awareness for a good cause.
Now, from each of these incentives and rewards, draw five smaller branches, and flesh out each of the five rewards. For example, you could flesh out the reward of getting to spend more time with your son as follows:
• I can find out what's going on in his life.
• I can develop more trust with him so that he knows that I'm here for him if he gets into any kind of trouble.
• Participating with him in an activity that he enjoys can help me build rapport with him; he can see that we share common interests.
• We can create memories together.
• While we're training we can plan other things to do together, such as going camping or building something together.
• I can develop more trust with him so that he knows that I'm here for him if he gets into any kind of trouble.
• Participating with him in an activity that he enjoys can help me build rapport with him; he can see that we share common interests.
• We can create memories together.
• While we're training we can plan other things to do together, such as going camping or building something together.
By the time you're done with this exercise, you'll have a long list of rewards which will act as a magnet pulling you toward your goal.
3. Create a list of all the regrets you'll experience if you don't follow through on your goal. For example, if one of your goals is to lose fifty pounds, you may experience the following regrets if you don't achieve this goal:
• You'll be at a higher risk for diabetes.
• You'll be at a higher risk for a heart attack.
• You'll continue to feel uncomfortable in your clothes.
• When summer comes around again you won't be as enthusiastic about going to the beach or the swimming pool.
• Since you'll be putting your health at risk, you may not get to see your kids grow up, graduate from college, get married, and have kids of their own.
• You'll be at a higher risk for a heart attack.
• You'll continue to feel uncomfortable in your clothes.
• When summer comes around again you won't be as enthusiastic about going to the beach or the swimming pool.
• Since you'll be putting your health at risk, you may not get to see your kids grow up, graduate from college, get married, and have kids of their own.
Your list of regrets will push you toward achieving your goal.
Conclusion
Use the three methods explained above to increase your motivation whenever you feel yourself procrastinating on something important that needs to get done. After all, the more motivated you are about something, the less likely it is that you'll give in to procrastination.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?3-Ways-to-Get-Motivated-and-Stop-Procrastinating&id=6146668
