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How do You Stay Motivated and Productive?

by Tudor
25 replies
Ok, just wanted to share a couple of tricks that I use to stay motivated and consistently productive - hopefully they help someone who's struggling.
- Write a to-do list for the next day
- Make sure the action points are challenging but still doable
- Convert the unfinished points into "carry over" for the next day
- Make a list of excuses not to get any work done (i.e. gotta watch TV, need to sleep in, have a party to go to, etc.) - and judge how valid or lame these excuses are. If the list is on paper, tear it up once it's completed, and then get to work.
- Have an accountability friend who requires you to report your completed work on a weekly basis.
- Blog or post regularly any updates on the progress you've made.

Ok, this is a short list of tricks I use, because I find it so easy to get excited about starting a new project, but halfway through it, all that excitement dies down and all that's left is just hard, hard work.
Want to share some of your tricks? Go right ahead!
Have a productive day everyone!
Tudor
#consistent #motivated #positive #productive #stay
  • Profile picture of the author GT
    Hey, Tudor:

    I appreciate your tips and I agree with you on all of them. I hear you about starting with enthusiasm, then fading halfway through.

    I think the only thing I would add to your list is one more thing I do when I need a boost of motivation:

    - I bring to mind my ultimate goal or purpose for the task at hand and that usually gets me refocused and rejuvenated.

    For example, when I am doing some monotonous task to build or promote my Internet Marketing business. I sometimes get bored or frustrated with it because there are no immediate results or rewards related to that particular task - it's just stuff that needs to be done to build the foundation for future financial success.

    When I hit that wall, I stop and recall my purpose for doing it. I relate the monotony of the task to the financial reward I expect to get from it at whatever the target date is and that usually gives me a boost of renewed interest and productivity.

    GT
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    • Profile picture of the author Tudor
      Originally Posted by GT View Post

      Hey, Tudor:

      I appreciate your tips and I agree with you on all of them. I hear you about starting with enthusiasm, then fading halfway through.

      I think the only thing I would add to your list is one more thing I do when I need a boost of motivation:

      - I bring to mind my ultimate goal or purpose for the task at hand and that usually gets me refocused and rejuvenated.

      For example, when I am doing some monotonous task to build or promote my Internet Marketing business. I sometimes get bored or frustrated with it because there are no immediate results or rewards related to that particular task - it's just stuff that needs to be done to build the foundation for future financial success.

      When I hit that wall, I stop and recall my purpose for doing it. I relate the monotony of the task to the financial reward I expect to get from it at whatever the target date is and that usually gives me a boost of renewed interest and productivity.

      GT
      Hello GT,

      Your tip is actually something I neglect to apply, especially when work gets overwhelming or monotonous and there are no immediate results in sight.

      Ok, next time I feel less than motivated, I'll know what to do!

      Have an awesome day,
      Tudor
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  • Profile picture of the author Japles
    Having a dream collage is also a great way to stay motivated!

    Create a poster of all the things that you wish to gain. Look at it when you are feeling unmotivated and you will suddenly remember why you are doing what you are doing in the first place.

    Good post Renovati, thanks for sharing
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    • Profile picture of the author Tudor
      Originally Posted by Japles View Post

      Having a dream collage is also a great way to stay motivated!

      Create a poster of all the things that you wish to gain. Look at it when you are feeling unmotivated and you will suddenly remember why you are doing what you are doing in the first place.

      Good post Renovati, thanks for sharing
      Japles, thanks for sharing the dream collage idea. I implemented something similar just recently using a picture of a car I really wanted. (of course, I now own it)
      It didn't occur to me to apply the same thing to other things I want.

      Thank you so much.

      Tudor
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeff Schuman
    Nice post Tudor. For me writing a daily to do list, completing the items, and marking them off as they are done keeps me motivated.
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    • Profile picture of the author heavysm
      I now keep a digital list on my phone of my various projects. Motivation keeps coming when i see those $$ in various accounts. That's the real motivation for me
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt Kendo
    I agree, I actually just made a blog post on the idea of making 3 goals or less per day, or er week depending on how time consuming they are and how much time you have. and under each goal having 3 action steps to do to accomplish that goal. The key is not doing anything else until your goals are done.

    Once you do this, you can plug them into your daily schedule where you have the time slots available. Action=results!
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    • Profile picture of the author oppyeaunome
      I do a short list and then I ask myself how can I complete these tasks as quickly and as effectively as possible. From there I set my timer because the added pressure makes me work. I kinda call it gun to the head productivity.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gail B
    Looking at my twins - always keep me motivated.
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  • Profile picture of the author j hogan
    Good post and an important topic.
    I use ToDoist.com to set up my projects and keep track of what I need to do. I agree with Matt Kendo about not having more than three main goals to achieve in a day. I write my three top things to do on sticky notes -anything I achieve over that is a bonus.
    I work at those three things early in the morning, before I do anything else.
    I keep motivated by reading about other peoples successes.
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  • Profile picture of the author Evocess
    Great lists Tudor.
    I usually list all the got to do stuff and schedule it everyday.
    Completing a task keeps me more motivated.

    I would suggest to you guys to use Google Calendar it will really help you keep in track with your got to do lists.
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  • Profile picture of the author jenmidas
    Pray
    Colorful vision board.
    Mastering 'To Do List'
    Use Google Calendar and set an SMS reminder from Google System of ALert.
    Listen to :

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    • Profile picture of the author Tudor
      Originally Posted by j hogan View Post

      Good post and an important topic.
      I use ToDoist.com to set up my projects and keep track of what I need to do. I agree with Matt Kendo about not having more than three main goals to achieve in a day. I write my three top things to do on sticky notes -anything I achieve over that is a bonus.
      I work at those three things early in the morning, before I do anything else.
      I keep motivated by reading about other peoples successes.
      ToDoist was my first choice when looking for a to do list app, but I couldn't figure out the reminder part, so I moved on to Wunderlist, which is so simple, even I was able to figure it out. Mornings are awesome - maybe that's when most of us are more connected with our inner selves.

      Originally Posted by oppyeaunome View Post

      I do a short list and then I ask myself how can I complete these tasks as quickly and as effectively as possible. From there I set my timer because the added pressure makes me work. I kinda call it gun to the head productivity.
      Originally Posted by Matt Kendo View Post

      I agree, I actually just made a blog post on the idea of making 3 goals or less per day, or er week depending on how time consuming they are and how much time you have. and under each goal having 3 action steps to do to accomplish that goal. The key is not doing anything else until your goals are done.

      Once you do this, you can plug them into your daily schedule where you have the time slots available. Action=results!
      Couldn't agree more with Matt Kendo - three is a magical number as far as to do lists go. Pushing it to four seems to result in tasks not being accomplished, which makes the next day seem less productive.

      Originally Posted by jenmidas View Post

      Pray
      Colorful vision board.
      Mastering 'To Do List'
      Use Google Calendar and set an SMS reminder from Google System of ALert.
      Listen to :
      Oh, thanks so much for sharing that! Nick Vujicik is such an inspiration.
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  • Profile picture of the author DaniMc
    I attached my success to something greater than me.

    I have an ethical obligation to my family. I simply MUST continue to increase my success because I owe it to my wonderful wife who is so helpful to me.

    I have a moral obligation to teach my son what it means to WIN. I want him to fulfill his potential in life and for him to do that, I MUST show him how by fulfilling mine.

    Failure is simply not an option. I would not be failing myself, I would be harming my family. I would be harming the people who need my services. I would be harming my community.

    To succeed is the only option I have, in order for me to be a good, ethical, moral person. With this in mind, I can work for days on end non-stop! Success is ALL IMPORTANT.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tudor
      Originally Posted by Dan McCoy View Post

      I attached my success to something greater than me.

      I have an ethical obligation to my family. I simply MUST continue to increase my success because I owe it to my wonderful wife who is so helpful to me.

      I have a moral obligation to teach my son what it means to WIN. I want him to fulfill his potential in life and for him to do that, I MUST show him how by fulfilling mine.

      Failure is simply not an option. I would not be failing myself, I would be harming my family. I would be harming the people who need my services. I would be harming my community.

      To succeed is the only option I have, in order for me to be a good, ethical, moral person. With this in mind, I can work for days on end non-stop! Success is ALL IMPORTANT.
      Dan, I can't thank you enough for your post. I have a son as well, and I *need* him to see that focus and determination in conjunction with a clear goal are part of what makes one successful.
      You're absolutely right - failure is not an option.
      Thanks again and have a fantastic day.
      Tudor
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  • Profile picture of the author Natniszakov
    You can write your to do list in a whiteboard, so you can see it all the time. That William keep you active.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bhekizwe
    A vision board &/dreambook is great as pictures "can speak a thousand words".
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  • Profile picture of the author MelanieandMiles
    When we need to get reinspired to dig in and work, we usually focus on getting some time in nature.

    Hiking, biking, snowboarding, paddle boarding, working in the garden or vineyard.

    No to do lists for inspiration here... Exercise outdoors helps us immensely.
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    • Profile picture of the author mimzi
      hi dude,

      Some times a bit of Rock n Roll @ disco/pub may wipe out your disappointment.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tudor
      Originally Posted by MelanieandMiles View Post

      When we need to get reinspired to dig in and work, we usually focus on getting some time in nature.

      Hiking, biking, snowboarding, paddle boarding, working in the garden or vineyard.

      No to do lists for inspiration here... Exercise outdoors helps us immensely.
      I couldn't agree more. Last summer I played tennis pretty much every day, and am planning on doing the same this summer as well.
      It looks like you guys are blessed with great outdoors where you live. I'm a bit jealous.
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  • Profile picture of the author createvalueshare
    My personal experience is to build up some new habits. In my opinion, the activities are important because they help you with will power to benifit you in the future.
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  • Profile picture of the author ramcon
    Discipline yourself. Be mature in keeping your own words. You can never achieve your goals unless you do something to achieve it.
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  • Profile picture of the author awesummer
    If it's okay to add another tip; focusing too much for too long isn't really an effective productivity tip because most of the time you're just warring out your mind from thinking and wasting time in the process.

    One productivity tip I always use from Nomadic Matt's interview is that you always have to create your own effective schedule. To make your schedule effective, you need to know when your mind works best. On my own schedule, it includes major tasks, minor tasks, breaks and unproductive stuff. With this, my tendency is to stick to my schedule because I know that when I finish those tasks, I can reward myself with a break (naps or going out for fresh air) or fun stuff (watching a movie).
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  • Profile picture of the author jmalecha51
    Lists, dream boards, family and goal setting are all very important I'm learning. I have found as far as staying positive and relieving stress that exercising, drinking a lot of water and meditation after reading are super helpful in boosting my morale!!!! I love to be positive! Is there something wrong with me if I'm always positive? Someone thought it was... I could never figure out why though. Any thoughts?
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    • Profile picture of the author Tudor
      Those are all fantastic tools; I wish more people went back to the basics and used them as often as possible.

      Being positive *all* the time can get a bit overwhelming for some people; remember - most people go through high-low cycles. For some there's more time spent "high" than "low", while for others it's the other way around.

      But I'd never agree with whoever said there's something wrong with being positive all the time.

      Have a fantastic day,
      Tudor
      Originally Posted by jmalecha51 View Post

      Lists, dream boards, family and goal setting are all very important I'm learning. I have found as far as staying positive and relieving stress that exercising, drinking a lot of water and meditation after reading are super helpful in boosting my morale!!!! I love to be positive! Is there something wrong with me if I'm always positive? Someone thought it was... I could never figure out why though. Any thoughts?
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