Easy motivation tips to get more done

Feeling sluggish? Can't do much of anything other than scroll through your news feed hours on end? Try these simple tricks to get moving again.

Trick your brain

According to social psychologist Amy Cuddy, adjusting your physiology tricks your brain into buckling down and getting things done. Quit slouching and stop squinting your eyes at the monitor. Do some stretches or turn the music up and play some air guitar. Music also pumps you up and puts you in a better mood. Can't be worse than sitting in your chair and getting nothing done.

Plan ahead

Instead of dreading the heaps of stuff waiting for you tomorrow, make a list of things to do the night before. This will mentally prepare you for what's ahead and chances are that establishing momentum earlier will carry you through the rest of the workday.

Choose your weapon

If the tools you use on a daily basis are not working for you, it's time to make a change. If Powerpoint doesn't cut it for you, try slides.com or make a Prezi. Switch up your clunky word processor for something with a cleaner interface like Calmy Writer. Sometimes, it's not even your motivation that's hindering you–your process is flawed. Find a simple, flexible tool that is easy to use and makes you more efficient, and reevaluate your process. If you don't have to do something a particular way, don't.

Remind yourself of your vision

Take a minute to ask yourself why you're working on this particular task in the first place. How does it align with your ultimate goal? If you can't seem to answer the question, perhaps you should ditch the task completely. If not, set your desktop wallpaper with a picture of your dream vacation destination or a quotation that inspires you. Reminding yourself of what's important will renew your resolve to power on.

Say no to the inner perfectionist

We all want to impress our bosses and be the envy of our co-workers. But don't intimidate yourself by setting impossible standards. Don't agonise over every single minute detail and don't stress yourself out before you've even begun. Remember, it's easier to improve on what you already have than to spin gold out of thin air.

Visualise the finish line

Associating positive thoughts with completing a task can make it less daunting. Think about the nap you can take or that lunch break at Nandos you can enjoy with your colleagues once you're done with the work at hand.  Similarly, think back to a success you've had in the past–you'll get a rush of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to motivation.

Bring out the champagne

Or at least celebrate what you've achieved at the end of the day. If you keep a to-do list, tick off everything you managed to get done in the past 24 hours, and treat yourself to something nice, like that 70% dark chocolate you've been saving at the back of your refrigerator or a nice steaming mug of mocha.

 

The writer is Sub-Editor of the career publication of The Daily Star. She is also a junior at the Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka