How to stay focused and motivated

We’re nearing the end of the first quarter of the year. Can you believe it? Around this time, it’s normal to be looking for that extra push to help you keep going for the rest of the year.

Here are some ways to rejuvenate yourself:

Listen to podcasts

If you’re struggling to muster the motivation to meet your goals, look no further than an uplifting podcast.

Podcasts are a great option because:

• You can listen to them while you do something else, for example commuting to work, doing household chores or even jogging.
• You can download them from Spotify or iTunes and listen offline without taking up too much precious storage space on your phone. In fact, remove them from your downloads once you’ve listened to them.
• They are FREE. That’s right, even though you may have to listen to a few adverts – it’s a small price to pay for some great, free advice.

The Science of Success and The School of Greatness are great podcast options. You’re likely to come across many others.

Read a motivational book

While reading is a great way to escape ‘real life’, it can also be a great way to learn something new, get inspired and change your view on life. There are many good books to read for self-motivation, but how do you know which ones to pick? Here are some tips:

• Identify the area you want to improve.
• Keeping this in mind, do a Google search for ‘motivational books’, for example 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey and The 5am Club by Robin Sharma.
• Research the authors to find out about their backgrounds, then identify the ones with a life story similar to yours.
• Check out reviews of books you plan on reading on Goodreads. It’s a great way to know more about the book before you spend your money and time on it.

Try journalling

Look into journalling as a way of tracking where you are in life and where you want to go in the future. Being honest with your thoughts and feelings serves as a type of self-therapy. There are numerous benefits to journalling, such as:

• Strengthening self-discipline
• Evoking mindfulness
• Improving communication skills
• Boosting self-confidence

Get back on track

After all has been said and done, you may need to press the reset button to help you reassess what matters most before you get going. Consider doing the following:

• Regain your confidence.
• Start small by focusing on what you still have control over, such as spending time reorganising your wardrobe or cleaning your home, or even spending time with family.
• Assess your time management.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. It can be a struggle to keep going when things are tough, but it’s up to you to find ways such as the above to help you lift your spirits. And remember, you're doing great. Keeping going!