Motivation Tips from a Life Coach

Motivation tips… sounds good, doesn’t it?

Although everyone wants to do the things, how to you really get motivated to do what needs to be done?

Motivation comes with deliberate, daily decisions to start small, do little things and dive in.

The battle of knowing that something needs to get done yet feeling very little motivation to actually jump in and start getting it done is something that everyone faces.

When life is busy and things are hectic, finding motivation to do just the day-to-day tasks can be quite tough.

Time. There is never enough.

Jobs. There are always too many.

Procrastination is in a constant battle with motivation.

Whether you have kids or not, work outside the home or not, homeschool or not, find yourself overseas or not…

Life is busy.

And there are huge piles of things to get done.

But sometimes the call of netflix or pinterest or instagram or a good book FAR outweigh the work load. Sometimes sitting outside with the kids or going with a friend for coffee is much more appealing. A sale at your favorite store? Yes.

And those things are good and have their moment. But when you are busy and multiple things need done, the piles and lists don’t go away without attention, perseverance and yes, motivation.

The house needs cleaned, errands need run, laundry needs put away, paperwork needs filled out.

Jobs, distractions, noise, overwhelming feelings… all of it.

How do you have the motivation to dig in and get things done?

What are the best motivation tips to get you moving on busy days?

Even better, how do you manage to get things done AND still have time for the fun, much more appealing activities like lunch with friends and coffee with netflix?

I’ve thought of some things that help me get things done and have time for the fun stuff. These are things that I regularly discuss with clients in coaching sessions.

Motivation Tips

1. Work space. This is something on my must have list. I need a space that I love to sit in to work on that paperwork and those reports those phone calls. I need room for folders and pens and files and a coaster for my iced coffee. Even a candle or two. You have to make that work space somewhere that you want to be and will help you sit down for the tasks needed.

2. Multitask. Before I sit down to work on anything, I make sure the dishwasher is running or the laundry is running or the kids are working on something. I love having 2 or 3 or 4 things going at once. Feeling productive adds to your motivation to knock things off your to-do list. I love finishing a few tasks at once. This is a cultivated skill… give it a try.

The caveat of multitasking – don’t have your brain doing multiple things at once. {Unless, for my neurodiverse family clients, this is part of your spectrum needs. My middle daughter has to have 3-5 brain things going at once to focus.}

Multitask using the systems around you to help you so you can focus your brain one the list, one thing at a time.

3. Lists. Checking things off the list really does help you see what you have accomplished. Not to mention it helps you remember what your brain is trying to remember. Use a piece of paper or an app on your phone. Choose something that feels natural to you so you’ll use it. Whatever works to help you make great lists. Keep paper by the bed for those late night thoughts. Write things down. It helps.

Pro Tip: Check out my store for printable journaling pages geared towards these kinds of lists and journaling practices.

4. Fight the “I don’t want to” feeling. Sometimes you have to start working on something to combat the feeling of not wanting to work on your to-do lists. Once I start sorting laundry or cleaning the kitchen, I usually start feeling the motivation to dig in to other things on my list. Also, remind yourself how good it feels to finally have that task OFF your list. That will never fail to get me moving ahead.

Pro Tip: Add “I will do it now.” to your regular vocabulary. Write it on a sticky note for your bathroom mirror or on the fridge. This one sentence will help you get up and do it now. No excuses.

5. Enlist help. If there is a lot that needs done, start assigning chores or jobs. Give your spouse some of your errands. Call a friend to help out. Hire a babysitter. Or a cleaning lady. Get everyone working so you can get a load of things done and then have time for fun.

If you’d like to talk through these things for your unique situation, I’d love to do that with you in coaching! You can start that here. Enlisting a coach for help is a great way to build motivation and have someone there to hold you accountable.

One client jokingly told me that she was going to keep me because I “actually make her do stuff.” I love that because I’m not making her do anything. She’s finding the support she needs to move forward and that is beautiful.

6. Prioritize. When there is a lot to do, I have to remind myself what is most important. It doesn’t ALL have to be done right now. The list isn’t so overwhelming when you know what has to be done and what your deadlines are for that day. What needs done first? What needs printed or started or filed or folded? Dig in to the first things on your list and then work on the rest later.

7. Timed Breaks. If you are like me, a 15 minute facebook check can turn into an hour of browsing online. Set a timer. Stick to it. Go back to work.

8. Find the Unnecessary. Does what you are stressing over really need done? Is your to do list full of things that NEED done or things you WANT done? When you need motivation, it helps to finish what needs done. Then you can dig in to what you want to do.

9. Quiet. I love playing worship music or letting my Bible app read to me or even just silencing the house when my to-do list is big. Sometimes an hour of quiet in the house can help you accomplish more than when things are crazy and loud. Send the kids outside, utilize their sports practice times so you can find quiet to hit the hard things on your list.

10. Rest. Once you have prioritized and multitasked and enlisted help and accomplished all you can for that time… rest. Let go. The list will be there tomorrow. Take time with family. Read a book. Sit outside. Get the rest you need so you can recharge for the next list and the next day.

11. Recognize the limitations. Extra things like living overseas or having kids with autism or being a young mom or navigating a chronic illness or dealing with difficult relationships will increase the time it takes to do everything. Extra stressors will increase the stress level of getting that one thing done, frustrate you to no end and make finishing a task nearly impossible. Go with it. Slow your life down, pull the pressure off, let go of that American time frame and join the flow around you.

I often recommend this book to ruthlessly stop the need to hurry. And then, we talk about spoon theory and your window of tolerance during coaching sessions together. I also recommend many of these books to help you learn about boundaries and healthy life things.

Release yourself from the hurried, frenzied pace and take a deep breath. You’ll feel better. You are doing a great job, I promise.

12. Get resourced and encouraged. This really, really does help you organize your life and get motivated. Resource yourself, be encouraged and realize that you are NOT alone!

Motivation during busy times is possible. You can do it.

You can work hard and have fun time too. You can beat procrastination and accomplish great things with your days.

Dig in. Start the process and finding the motivation to complete the list will come soon after.

Plus, having the fun time you need at the end.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” -Nelson Mandela

What are some things that you do to fight procrastination and busyness and being overwhelmed?

What are your top motivation tips?