How to Motivate Yourself to Keep Going

I don’t know what your mother, father, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, friend told you, but freelancing is hard. Writing is hard. And so is starting your own business.

With Memorial Day coming up, I thought it apropos to start the weekend off right, by composing a list of a few must-dos that’s 100% light and fun without the heavy sugary carbs to weigh you down.

Reward Yourself

Remember when you were a kid and your parents gave you an allowance or took you out for ice-cream on account of good behavior? Don’t ya miss those times? I’m betting that your inner child misses it too.

All that late night working takes out all the fun and playfulness in life. Instead of vying to be like the Joneses, maybe we should strive to be like the Kardashians (minus the destructive behavior). As in, partying hard, living life carefree and acting like kids every once in awhile.

If we don’t feed our inner child, that little angel will turn into a demon fast. Like a two-year old pounding on the ground to be played with.

How do you avoid your own childlike tantrums?

Reward yourself whenever you spend a late-night working. But don’t do it with food or unnecessary spending. Instead, get creative. Create a reward system based on mini daily treats, monthly rewards and yearly extravaganzas to celebrate both small and big goals.

• Spa day. Daily: DIY at home. Monthly: Get a mani-pedi or a haircut. Yearly: Splurge on a day at the spa for a massage/facial.
• Go out in nature. Daily: 10-30 minute walks. Monthly: Take a half a day excursion to bike ride, walk, run, swim or pick your outdoor pleasure.  Yearly: Plan a week long relaxing outdoorsy vacation.
• Bring a little ohm back into your life. Daily: 5-30 minutes of mindfulness meditation, 5 moments of deep breathing per day. Monthly: Sign up for a yoga, tai chi or meditation class. Yearly: Go on a relaxing, serene retreat.
• Make time to reflect. Daily: Write in a journal when you first wake up in the morning or before you go to bed at night. Monthly: Write a longer post and reflect on your goals, what you have accomplished so far and what you still would like to pursue. Yearly: Make a date with a friend or your partner and discuss what you are most proud of in your life and what you want to work on this year.

These are a just a few ideas. What helps you unwind? What helps motivate you to on the journey to succeed in whatever you do?