“How do people stay motivated?”
I ask myself this question when I lose enthusiasm to complete my tasks. Around two years ago, my brother suddenly passed away and it was really challenging for me to keep up with my academics, as the semester was still not over. I managed to pull through, but it wasn’t a smooth ride.
Uncertainty is tough and challenging, especially during this pandemic, but this could be a great opportunity to practice gratitude, to heal, and to adapt to new changes. Here are five things that helped motivate me during these trying times:
1. Listen to your favorite song/playlist
Don’t you just love the feeling of listening to your favorite music – like, the way it makes your heart beat with excitement and makes you want to dance, like OMG this song is SO good!
It instantly lifts your mood. A study even says that listening to music also boosts your productivity and creativity. Talk about the best of both worlds!
2. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude
Have you ever wondered what a simple “thank you” can do? According to this article, gratitude has always been connected to happiness and has a ton of benefits. But how exactly?
Well, the act of gratitude is appreciating the things we have, both tangible and intangible. Through this appreciation, we acknowledge where we get these things from (I personally refer to these things as “blessings”), and it reminds us that there is still good that resides around us.
You can start by writing down a list of things or blessings you receive each day and reflect on it. You can also say a prayer to express your gratitude if you like.
Keep your relationships strong, as well. You can do this by thanking the people who have made a positive impact on your life. We need to strengthen one another. We are a community, after all.
3. Celebrate your progress (no matter how small)
One way we can stay motivated, to push towards our goals, is to reward ourselves for our progress. Celebrate your small wins! When we do that, we feel good and energized to continue pursuing our goal.
Patrick Edblad, a Mental Training Practitioner, talks about the power of small wins and how we can apply it to our daily routine. When we track our progress, we avoid burnout and we stay focused to complete our goals — aja fighting!
These things help me get off to a good start, but I was wondering if there is still something else I could do as a person of faith. I reached out to a close friend and asked, “What motivates you during these trying times?” He said, “I am motivated when I permit myself to trust the Divine Being. It gives so much meaning to my life when I remember His Words, His promises, and His unfading love.” He then recommended this nonprofit organization called StuMo, or Student Mobilization, that helps him stay motivated no matter what situation he is in.
I checked their Facebook page, and I found this interview by David Pool, a spiritual adviser in StuMo. He gave two simple ways to strengthen my faith during this pandemic:
4. Time Alone with God (TAWG)
Pool said to do our best to make it a habit to seek the presence of God every day, preferably in a quiet place, like your room. For 15 to 20 minutes, spend some quality time talking to God through genuine prayer from the heart and listen to Him by reading the Bible.
5. Connect to a loving community of believers
Pool added that God created us for a community with Himself and others also. This habit that could revolutionize our lives can also be done with others that you know who are committed to their spiritual development and relationship with God.
Incorporating these tips into your daily routine will give you an extra boost of motivation to help you achieve your goal one step at a time.
As Dory, from Finding Nemo, says, “Just keep swimming.”
留言