How to Stay Motivated to Reach Your Goals

Welcome to my latest edition of Your Career Newsletter providing support when you need it!

In this edition, I'll discuss how to STAY MOTIVATED to reach your goals. Too often our goals are forgotten or left to fizzle after the initial enthusiasm of setting them. Let's make sure you stay motivated and take action to Get Important Stuff Done.

But first, thank you 💝 to my 33,500+ newsletter subscribers for joining me today - if you haven't already done so, subscribe to be notified 🔔 when new articles are released. Now let's see how we can keep you motivated to stay on track to reach your goals this year!

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Do you feel a little 'ho-hum' about your life and career? Are you wondering how to get motivated, and stay motivated to reach your career or life goals? 

Were you enthusiastic in the past but now you just can’t get motivated to take action to reach your goals?  If you haven't set any goals and each day seems much the same as the next, you may be wondering 'Is this all there is?

Some people are always upbeat and positive about their lives but how do they do it? How do they stay motivated to reach their goals?

Why it's Important to Feel Motivated

There are detrimental effects to always feeling demotivated. A study by global employee engagement company Reward Gateway found that a lack of motivation impacts both performance and mental health.

The top five effects found were:

1. Bad mood
2. Declining mental health
3. Reduced productivity levels
4. Reduced quality of work
5. Poor diet

The research reported, "Almost a third say their relationships with family and friends suffer, and almost one in five admits to drinking more alcohol when feeling unmotivated."

How to Get Motivated

Have you found that you feel enthusiastic at the beginning of a new project or experience, however, something slips, procrastination sets in and other 'bright shiny objects' take your focus?

You may feel guilty for not following through and your self-talk may convince you that it wasn't really what you wanted anyway. Then you may feel disappointed or frustrated with yourself and a little embarrassed to admit to yourself that you simply didn't follow through. 

I was asked by a reader to write a post about motivation and I felt excited at the suggestion and the ideas started forming in my mind. Before they vanished into the ether, I grabbed a pen and started writing my stream of thoughts on the subject. 

But then I got distracted and oh, you know how it is ... and ended up working on something else. 

What happened? I know I went down that procrastination path but I caught myself and I said to myself, "Do you REALLY want this post written? If so, you'd better get on with it NOW!"

How to Make Things Happen

If you want something to happen, it must become a reality in your mind so you can imagine what success would be like.

You must see it.  

Live it. 

Breathe it. 

Hear it. 

Taste it. 

Smell it.  

How will things be for you when you reach your goal? How will it feel for you? What will you be saying about it? Who will be around you? What will they be saying? 

Embed in your mind how success will feel for you and get excited about it. 

What needs to be done to reach this goal? 

You must take the small steps that will inch you closer to your goal. The small steps are the ones that you can start to take right now, and tomorrow, and the next day. 

Take petite steps that are achievable so that you can celebrate completing a step every day. 

"To reach your goals start today with a small step. Celebrate every step forward each day"

How to Stay Motivated to Reach Your Goals

You will get motivated and stay motivated when you are specific about the goals you want to reach.

What DO you want? Happiness or fulfilment? Wealth or Love? Health or Recognition? Sporting prowess or Career Success?  

Once you identify what you want then ask yourself these questions:

• What does happiness mean to you?
• How will fulfilment change your life?
• What does wealth mean to you?
• How big a part of your life is love and what does love bring you? 
• When you have spiritual, physical, mental and emotional health how will you feel?
• What does mastering a sporting skill mean to you?
• When you identify what career success is and you achieve it, what will happen?

Think about these questions and write down your answers. Commit to paper EXACTLY what you hope to gain from reaching that goal and you will be able to conjure the specifics in your mind’s eye and start to live it ‘as if’ it is already yours.

And here’s another consideration for you … do you truly believe you deserve it? Without reservation? 

If these questions make you a little uncomfortable then face them directly and be honest about the real issue that's holding you back from taking those steps to reach your goals.

My article, What's Holding You Back? may help you to identify those issues.

Positive self-talk as a habit is important for you to truly believe and can honestly say to yourself, “YES! I deserve it!” 

** Affirmations help you to create a positive self-talk habit. Download my Morning Affirmations here

Focus on the End Result

Let’s not concern ourselves about HOW, you will do it. Focus on the end result and KNOW that it will happen because if you know it, you will do it. 

Embrace the feeling of success.  

Imagine what you will say to yourself and what others will be saying when you reach your goals

Focus on that for a day or two and let it sink in that this is going to happen and focus on knowing it will happen.  

To avoid self-sabotage, remember that you are worthy of success!

Have you reached specific goals in the past? Share your successes in the comments below and let's celebrate your past achievements and the achievements you will enjoy in the months ahead!

Warm wishes,

Jane

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For over 20 years I've been coaching my clients to reach their goals. Would you like coaching support to reach your career and life goals too? 

Visit The Careers Academy where you will find a wealth of options to help you reach your goals. I've created many free downloadable support options for you and online programs for you in the Academy.

For one-on-one bespoke coaching support, book an exploratory chat with me here

Be empowered to achieve what you know you deserve in your life and career!

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