"I Just Do Not Have It In Me" - a crash course in how to self-motivate

I have been doing a great deal of motivation (or lack of) work in coaching sessions with students over the last two months. Some seek professional coaching because of the stress of not knowing what to do with unstructured time (home-based learning). Some feel the overwhelm of not knowing how to juggle the technology-styled learning. And some are struggling with "seeing the light at the end of the tunnel". 

As we know it, motivation is the desire to get something done. We can fancy the definition all we want, but when it comes down to it, we get things accomplished based on our motivation and effort. Our levels of motivation fluctuate from day to day and hour to hour.  This is natural and to be expected. It is when motivation remains low and begins to effect output that students begin to panic and fall behind.

Some of the things that effect our level of motivation are mood, health, mindset, anxiety and depression, and perspective. Some of us are driven by internal desires and needs to "get on the ball", and some of us are driven by external thoughts and rewards. Any way we butter the bread, our desired outcome depends on our intentions and our efforts - motivation.

These are some of the mentally challenging questions we explore in professional coaching when motivation is low, and energy is elusive. Sometimes frustration rises because there is no answer; no vision; no clarity; no desire.  What the student comes to realize is that the simple act of exploring these questions is actually a motivator!

If you are a student experiencing low motivation and cannot visualize finishing the semester (right now), what thought patterns can you shift? How can you rethink and reframe thoughts paralyzing your actions? Is it realistic to remain in your non-motivated state any longer? What emotional and mental snowball effect will your lack of movement create? How will being in this state of being affect you? How can you access positive thinking and forward motion? How will you "raise your frequency?"

To some students, intentionally adjusting your level of motivation may look like:

• planning
• organizing
• communicating
• creating a groove, new routine
• cleaning up wellness routine
• identifying the things that are not serving you well
• modifying negative thoughts, limiting beliefs, and obstacles
• stepping out of your safe and comfortable zone
• trying something you have never tried before
• convincing yourself you have everything to gain and not much to lose
• ​creating personal boundaries
• looking at the things in life you have been tolerating that are not helping you
• assessing your habits and nonbeneficial urges
• decreasing procrastination by increasing prioritization
• redefining your fears

These actions may create a stretch for you. They may be ideas you have only ever dreamed of; things you have never been able to see yourself doing. But, engaging in one small act of forward movement, however, is the “thing” that will increase your momentum.
 
Of course, obstacles will trip you up; make you question your efforts. The human brain is designed to be negative, so you might doubt every effort you make to move the dial on motivation. It is critical to remind yourself that as you connect and work on increasing your desires to accomplish and succeed, be extremely specific in what this look like for YOU. As Steve Jobs stated, "Let the vision pull you.".

What does it look like to "be done"?
What does it look like to "hit that submit button with confidence"?
What does it feel like to enjoy your break knowing you did the best you could?
What does it feel like to move that "C" to a "B"?
 
Enjoy these mantras as additional mental motivators (internet sourced):
​
“The Best Way to Get Started Is to Quit Talking and Begin Doing.” – Walt Disney
 
 “Discipline is doing what needs to be done, even if you do not want to.”
 
“We Generate Fears While We Sit. We Overcome Them by Action.”
 

“The harder you work for something, the greater you'll feel when you achieve it.”