Running low on motivation for your work, health, career, or something else? Here are 15 best things you can do to get motivated and tick every task off your list.
Motivation is such a slippery thing. Some days you feel motivated to do everything, other days even routine tasks feel like too much.
But if you want to succeed in life, or just maintain a good routine for the sake of peace and joy, then motivation is needed.
Being a writer, it’s very important for me to stay motivated. If I am not inspired or motivated to write, I can’t even get a sentence out.
I am also a health enthusiast, and I believe in the power of healthy eating and daily workouts to be able to live the best. But again, if I am not motivated, I can’t do any of those things.
So, all in all, I get what lack of motivation can do to your life. It can take away years of progress, cause major setbacks, and make it hard to sustain your habits, routines, and goals.
That’s why I want to share 15 best motivation secrets that I use every day, week, month, and throughout the year to stay on top of my stuff.
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You can’t rely on motivation to appear magically. If you want to win, then you need to create the conditions where it shows up naturally. Here are 15 ways to do it:
15 Ways To Get Motivated and Keep Going
1. Start Ridiculously Small
Instead of saying ‘I’ll work out for an hour,’ tell yourself ‘I’ll just put on my shoes and stretch.’
Once you start, momentum will often carry you further than what you have planned. And even if it doesn’t and you only end up stretching, it’s way, way better than nothing!
Your brain loves to overcomplicate things and create massive mental barriers around tasks.
But when you make the first step laughably easy, you are able to sneak past your own resistance. It’s kind of like tricking yourself into success.
Once you’re in motion, you’ve already won half the battle.
Because believe me, a tiny step forward is infinitely better than a perfect plan you never start.
2. Create a ‘Why’ That Excites You
Your ‘why’ is like fuel for your motivation engine. Without it, you’ll run out of steam quickly.
So whenever you set out to do a task that you don’t feel motivated to do, just dig deep within you.
Ask yourself why you want to do the thing. Is it better health, more freedom, feeling proud of yourself, and proving you can stick to something?
Write it down somewhere you’ll see it daily, and make it personal and specific to you.
The more vivid and meaningful your ‘why’ becomes, the easier it’ll be to push through the moments when you don’t feel like doing the work.
3. Change Your Environment
Your environment is constantly sending you signals about what to do next.
A cluttered desk would make you want to give up even before you start, while organized workout clothes would fuel your motivation.
You can either let your environment ruin things for you or make you a winner.
So, use this to your advantage by designing spaces that support your goals rather than sabotage them.
Keep your workspace tidy, place your workout clothes where you can see them, and put your phone in another room while you focus.
Set your space in a way so that good choices are easier and bad choices are harder.
You’ll save so much energy when your environment is working with you instead of against you.
4. Romanticize The Task
This might sound ridiculous, but I light a specific candle when I write, and it’s like a signal to my brain that we’re doing something special.
I have friends who create elaborate coffee rituals before studying, or who use their fanciest pens for journaling.
This is what you call romanticizing! It’s like adding magic to the mundane work stuff and making it more interesting.
When something feels special rather than a drag, you actually want to do it.
So, go ahead. Light a candle while you study, make your to-do list pretty, play a motivating playlist, make a special cup of tea during your break, and use your favorite pen.
These small touches will make your tasks pleasant and create positive associations that make you actually look forward to doing them again tomorrow.
5. Use The ‘Just 5 Minutes’ Rule
This is hands-down my favorite trick because it works on my lazy brain every single time.
When I’m avoiding something, I tell myself, ‘Do it just for five minutes, then you quit with zero guilt.’
Honestly, sometimes I do quit after five minutes, and that’s perfectly okay. I still did something instead of nothing.
But usually what happens is I get into it and keep going. It’s like my brain needed permission to not be perfect, and once I allowed myself that, the work got easier.
Five minutes of cleaning is better than zero minutes. Five minutes of writing is better than staring at a blank page. It takes the pressure off and lets momentum do its thing.
So, when you’re not in the mood to do something, tell yourself you’ll only do it for 5 minutes. Most of the time, once you start, you’ll keep going.
6. Reward Yourself
People usually feel guilty about rewarding themselves for basic adult tasks, but you know what? Life is hard, and celebrating small wins makes it better.
Your brain responds beautifully to positive reinforcement, so why not use that to your advantage?
I have a special coffee blend I only drink after morning workouts, and I’ve got the coziest blanket for my reading time.
Sometimes I literally buy myself flowers after finishing a big project.
The rewards don’t have to be expensive or elaborate. Just something that makes you smile.
Your brain starts associating the task with good feelings, and suddenly you’re actually looking forward to doing the thing you used to dread.
7. Surround Yourself With Good Energy
The people and content you consume become part of your internal dialogue. When you intentionally seek out inspiring voices, fill your mental space with possibility rather than limitation.
This way, you’re choosing influences that lift you up and show you what’s possible.
Find podcasts, books, social media accounts, or friends who embody the energy you want to cultivate.
Notice how different you feel after spending time with inspiring content versus draining content.
You become who you spend time with, even if it’s through a screen or a book.
Related post: How To Be A More Positive Person (10 Mindful Habits)
8. Build Routines and Habits
Relying on motivation is exhausting. Some days you’ll feel like conquering the world, other days you’ll want to hide under a blanket fort.
Habits and routines (good things you do every day on repeat) are what keep you going on blanket fort days.
Start embarrassingly small, like doing one push-up after you brush your teeth, or writing one sentence in a journal with your morning coffee.
I know it feels a little too simple, but consistency beats intensity every time.
After a few weeks, these tiny habits will become automatic, and then you can build on them.
9. Break The Boring Cycle
When you get stuck in a rut, everything starts feeling dull and boring.
If you do the same workout, have the same desk setup, and the same everything, then your brain will go to sleep.
That’s why you need to shake things up from time to time and break the boring cycle.
Maybe work from a coffee shop instead of your home office, try a new type of exercise, or rearrange your furniture.
Take a new route to work, try a new study spot, and approach a familiar task from a different angle.
Just do something different enough to wake up your brain and remind you that your life is not boring.
Sometimes a simple change of scenery is all you need to rediscover your enthusiasm for something you’ve been doing on autopilot.
10. Borrow Accountability
You might hit snooze seventeen times on your own workout, but if you’re meeting someone at the gym, you’ll be there.
It’s weird how that works, right? You will absolutely flake on yourself, but you won’t flake on your friend.
Humans hate letting others down more than themselves, which is why this tip is great for leveling up your motivation.
Text your friends about your goals, join online groups, find accountability partners, or work on a goal in a group.
When you know someone is cheering you on (or doing it with you), you’re way more likely to follow through.
And also, celebrating wins with other people makes them even sweeter.
11. Track Your Wins Visibly
Crossing things off a list is pure joy for your brain. It’s simple, powerful, and deeply satisfying.
If you don’t already do it, then start tracking your wins visibly.
You can make a simple paper list, use a habit tracker, or put a sticker on a calendar. Or maybe keep a simple habit tracker on your fridge with colorful stickers!
Some people love apps, others prefer paper. Find whatever makes you feel accomplished.
Just make your progress visible instead of keeping it all in your head.
On days when you feel like you’re not getting anywhere, you can look at your tracker and see proof that you’re actually doing amazing.
12. Play with Time Pressure
Set a timer for 20 minutes and race yourself. Urgency can push you past inertia.
I’m embarrassingly competitive, even with myself, so timers are like magic for me. I’ll set 15 minutes to clean my kitchen, and suddenly I’m moving like I’m on a game show.
There’s something about racing the clock that makes boring tasks feel urgent and important.
It also prevents you from getting caught up in perfectionism because there’s no time for that nonsense. You just need to get stuff done.
Knowing there’s an endpoint makes even the worst tasks bearable.
Sometimes you’ll be so focused during timer sessions that you’ll actually forget to stop when it goes off.
You can do almost anything for 20 minutes, right? So, set that timer, fire up your motivation, and get to work!
13. Tap Into Your Alter Ego
You have a different version of yourself inside you. You just need to consciously choose which one shows up when.
Think about times when you felt most capable, focused, or determined. What did that version of you believe? How did they approach challenges?
Give this version of yourself a name or image if it helps. Or wear smarter clothes if you need to and activate your girl boss mode.
When motivation is low, ask yourself what your stronger self would do, then take that action as this person.
You might be amazed at how quickly you can shift into a more resourceful state.
14. Remind Yourself of the Cost of Not Doing It
I don’t love dwelling on negative stuff, but sometimes a little reality check is exactly what you need to get yourself moving.
When you’re procrastinating on something important, ask yourself, ‘How will I feel tomorrow if I don’t do this today?’
The answer might be that you’ll be frustrated, stressed, or disappointed in yourself.
Think about the opportunities you might miss or how behind you’ll be if you keep avoiding this.
I am not asking you to beat yourself up over it, but just to be super honest about the consequences.
Often, that little wake-up call is all you need to get motivated and get things done.
15. Reframe The Story
The best way to build motivation and sustain it is to change your perspective. In simple words, change the story in your head.
Instead of ‘I have to work out’, think ‘I get to move my body and make it stronger’.
The former sounds like a punishment, but the latter sounds like a gift.
Instead of ‘I have to study’ (boring), make it, ‘I get to learn new things and grow my brain.’
The first mindset is boring, but the second one is kind of exciting.
It’s not about toxic positivity or pretending everything is amazing. It’s about choosing thoughts that actually serve you.
When you frame things as opportunities instead of obligations, you naturally feel more grateful and motivated.
Your brain responds completely differently to privilege than it does to pressure. So, change the narrative, and take back your power!
Let’s Get Your Motivation Up and Running
Motivation isn’t some magical spark that shows up when the stars align. It’s something you can generate with small tricks, rituals, and mindset shifts.
Some days, you’ll feel fired up. Other days, you’ll feel sluggish. That’s completely normal. Happens to me all the time.
But the tips in this post help me get moving, and if you give them a genuine try, I’m sure they’ll do the same for you.
So, try, and let me know how it goes for you!
Read next: How To Organize Your Life In One Week
You just discovered 15 real ways to get motivated every day! Got any favorites? Or a tip that you use that’s not in this list? Let me know in the comment box.
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