How to motivate yourself in 5 simple steps

motivate yourself

The theme of motivation is inexhaustible, because the question of how a person will prompt himself to action will always be relevant. How do you want to do what you need, but do not want to? We tried to solve this problem with the help of practitioners – people who proved that they know how to motivate themselves. Here is a selection of first-person methods used by big businessmen in their daily activities, as well as scientific evidence that this really works. Read and try on yourself.

1. Use social responsibility

Motivation to raise one’s image in front of other people is one of the most powerful driving forces in human nature. I prefer to direct this endless stream of motivation to all the important things I want to do. I find the right partners and make a bet with them, stipulating mutual responsibility: the positive and negative consequences of fulfilling or not fulfilling the terms of the deal.

For example, I bit my nails for as long as I can remember. It made me so insecure that I hid my hands under the table during business meetings. And once I did a manicure and noticed that my manicurist also bites my nails. Then I had an idea: “What if we stop biting our nails together?”

Here is the deal I came up with:

  1. If I bite my nails, I will pay twice for the next manicure.
  2. If she bites her nails, my manicure will be free.
  3. If each of us wins or loses, payment will be normal.

We shook hands, and for three months now, as I pay the usual price for my manicure. The strategy worked.

Think about what changes you could achieve by becoming partners in a similar deal with important people for you, for example, suppliers (accountants, lawyers, employees, etc.).

2. Reunite with your main source of inspiration.

When I feel resistance before some business, it is useful for me to slow down and spend five minutes to remind myself of the goal, visualizing those parts that inspire me most.

My goal is to help build world-class organizations that challenge critics and thrive in the face of adversity. This is what drives me on a deep personal level. Usually, to get a portion of inspiration, I ask myself the following questions:

  1. Why did I choose leadership?
  2. Which leaders throughout history have inspired me the most?
  3. Which of their qualities do I most admire?
  4. Why is it so important to give more strength to my work than something else?

Studies show that having a goal allows you to get more pleasure from work, which inevitably makes you more productive. If you are happy at work and doing what you love, you will always have a source of energy and inspiration. And you can rely on it when the situation becomes critical. Often this is what distinguishes great leaders from mediocrity.

3. Be like Steve Jobs: find time to visit places that inspire creativity

Weekly I spend 90 one-on-one minutes with me to think strategically about my life and business, as well as to consider the critical consequences that I would like to avoid.

Holding personal meetings with representatives of the team is a very good practice of an effective leader. For example, I meet weekly in private with the top leaders of my company, consisting of 150 people. This is necessary, and, of course, it makes sense to do the same with respect to yourself.

Just as Steve Jobs held pleasure meetings to awaken creativity, I go to a place that inspires me to be creative and focused – the Smyth Hotel lounge in New York. This place is an amazing way to help me reach the desired state of mind. And during each such session, I ask myself 2 fundamental questions:

  1. What is the most important thing I need to do this week to help achieve my goal (or the goals of my company)?
  2. Why is this so important?

Having received convincing answers to both these questions, I feel motivated and ready for a new work week.

4. Take a daily 15-minute walk to motivate you and clear your brain

I take a daily 15-minute walk around the area where my office is located to clear my head. This allows me to:

  1. Ponder my “Why”;
  2. Think about your main goals;
  3. Focus on essential but non-urgent needs.

Contrary to popular belief, mental fatigue is not caused by the exhaustion of the part of our brain that is responsible for focusing attention. In fact, this is caused by overloading of the department, which blocks distractions. Studies show that walking (especially in natural conditions) helps restore our brain’s ability to filter distracting incoming information, due to which we hover in the clouds while working.

5. Exercise before making hard decisions that motivate you

When I need to make a difficult decision and start acting, I go to the gym for half an hour to cheer up and feel more energetic. It helps me get myself to do complex tasks when necessary.

A 2006 study , published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, found that a consistent exercise regime has a major positive effect on willpower.


So, we have reviewed 9 simple recommendations from successful people to motivate themselves:

  • Use the chameleon effect and get motivated by other people and the environment;
  • Announce your goals publicly and give mutual commitments to other people;
  • For each case on your list, add a place and time, where and when you will carry it out;
  • Periodically go back to your main source of inspiration, remind yourself, for what all this;
  • Take short walks to allow the brain to regain its ability to concentrate;
  • Exercise before making important decisions – it strengthens your willpower;
  • Remind yourself of the importance of the future consequences of your actions;
  • Complete the work started before starting new ones.

Do you have effective ways to motivate? Share your life hacking in the comments.