The 5 strategies and guidelines to combat demotivation

It is very common for people who are faced with long periods of preparation, planning or execution of projects (whether work or study) go through periods in which it is difficult for them to follow through with the chores. Namely, they go through periods of time in which they are demotivated; they start the journey with a lot of energy and little by little they "lose steam".

Motivation: an important concept in our lives

The motivation It is the inner strength that people have and that helps us to initiate, maintain and increase a behavior. Since it is a fluctuating thing, it is necessary that we know how to implement our own strategies to motivate ourselves.

Also, individual differences in temperament and character (we psychologists refer to this as'Personality traits') Make some people demotivated more easily than others. Therefore, it is important that each person knows how to motivate himself.

Five tips to increase your level of motivation

Below you have a total of five general tips to help you regain your motivation

. Remember that, as "each person is different", it may be that some advice is more useful than another. Tailor the advice to your particular situation to make it more effective.

1. Take a rest

It is very important that, in the face of blockages, demotivation and apathy, we give ourselves some time to "disconnect". We all have periods of doubt and demotivation. And in those days we have to combine our "goals" with activities that allow us to distract ourselves. That is, you have to strike a balance between tasks that make you achieve your goal and tasks that are recreational or enjoyable for you. Thus, you will be able to have a bird's eye view of what you are doing and what you are doing it for.

Remember: take a break and distance yourself from homework when you become unmotivated or find yourself stuck.

2. Focus on the positive details

It is important that we are able to enjoy and appreciate the positive details. It is about us stopping to observe the positive achievements we have made. To have positive achievements, the secret is to set concrete and achievable goals. Accomplishments and successes, even small, help us keep going and allow us to learn from our strengths. That is to say, we not only have to learn from our mistakes, we must also strengthen what makes us succeed.

You can write on a sheet of paper or post-it those goals that you have reached to keep them in mind and remember your capabilities. Post this folio so you can always look at it.

3. Take back the sense of your goal

Many times we become unmotivated because routine makes us forget the reasons why we have undertaken a project. When you feel unmotivated, go back in time and visualize or imagine what it is that has led you to want to take that path.

You have to remember the reasons that led you to want to achieve that goal. This will help you motivate yourself, because it will connect you with your personal desires and aspirations.

4. Assess your progress by comparing yourself to yourself, don't compare yourself to others

The achievements and progress you have you should value them based on where you were before and where you are now. It is about that you value all the areas that are part of your project, for example: skills and abilities that have improved or won, fears that you had before and no longer have, things that you now do easily and before they cost you a lot of.

This is the correct way to assess your progress, compare yourself with your "past self". Comparing yourself to other people, whose circumstances are very different, is not a good idea and does not allow you to have a proper perspective on your progress.

5. Make changes that enrich your routine: cultivate your divergent thinking

The divergent thinking it is that one who is out of the ordinary, the everyday and the routine **; it is a type of thinking that allows us to be more creative and motivated **. To cultivate this type of thinking we need to be in contact with different stimuli (visual, auditory) and vary our routine.

It is about being in contact with new ideas, trends, and activities to the best of your ability. In this way you will awaken your creativity and generate new ways of facing the tasks with greater motivation.

• It may interest you: "The 10 keys to enhance your creativity"

Extra key: perseverance and common sense

Finally, he remembers that lThe key to making these tips work for you is consistency. Put them into practice regularly and above all, in the face of blockages: take a break. Motivation arises when you feel good about yourself.