The Lazy Man's Steps to Becoming Self Motivated
I'm speaking from experience here. I used to consider myself to
be a lazy person. It took great effort and careful planning for
me to get off my duff and become a self-motivated person. To be
successful, you must be able to motivate yourself. The steps I
am about to share with you, I learned from my own experience and
by observing the methods of some very successful people.
Figure out your "why"
Successful, motivated people always have a "why". Determine what
your "why" is. What part of your lifestyle would you really like
to change? What parts of your life are you really, really tired
of? Pinpoint these issues.
Here is my first list of "whys":
* I needed to spend more time reading and learning * I wanted to
make healthier choices in my eating and exercising. * I was
desperately tired of being inundated by a massive debt load. * I
was tired of being obligated to drive through the busiest
traffic of the day and spend the best part of my day at an
office surrounded by negative people that I really didn't care
to spend my time with. * I was tired of telling my 12 year old
son that I couldn't afford the faster racing go kart or parts
that would make him more competitive with the other racers. * I
was tired of hauling his kart and equipment in the back of our
pickup instead of in a nice enclosed trailer like the other
racers had. * I didn't want to be an "average joe", or what I
call "the cream of the crap"
Put a picture to your "why"
Once you have identified what your "why" is, put a picture to
it. What would it look like if you already had the results that
you attained by achieving your "why". Spend several minutes
every day visualizing those pictures. Play them in your head
like a little movie.
I can see myself pulling in to my parking area in the pit at the
kart racing facility with my 1-Ton GMC diesel pickup pulling a
20 foot enclosed trailer. When I open the rear fold down door, I
roll out 3 matching karts. All of them are brand new and each
has a different style of engine to run in 3 different classes.
One runs a Yamaha KT100, one runs a TaG motor, and the 3rd is an
80cc shifter kart. As I peer into the back of the trailer, I see
a workbench with cabinet drawers where I keep all my tools and
spare parts neatly organized.....you get the point. See things
as you wish for them to be.
Make some simple changes
Start by making some simple changes in your routine. Don't set
yourself up to fail by trying to make sweeping changes that you
can't possible keep up with. Begin small, develop habits, and
grow from there. Here are some suggestions that may help you get
started.
Drink at least 2 quarts of water every day. I couldn't believe
how much more energy I had during the day after I began doing
that. In addition, I have not gotten a cold or the flu since I
started drinking water like that.
If you have a pattern of skipping breakfast, as many do,
purchase some protein powder and begin to drink protein shakes
as a substitute for breakfast that you can drink in the car
during your commute. It is commonly known that breakfast is the
most important meal of the day. There are good reasons that you
should not skip this meal. This is a quick and simple way to get
some nourishment to start your day right without taking time out
to prepare and eat a meal.
Go on a 30 day fast from television. You would be surprised how
much time can be recovered by eliminating TV. Use that time
productively. It can be utilized much better on physical
exercise, playing games with family members, reading personal
development information, starting and developing a part time
income producing activity, or working on projects around the
home. I guarantee, you will feel much better about yourself when
you involve yourself in these types of activities than if you
spend three hours watching "Wheel of Fortune", and reruns of
"Friends".
Create a detailed daily schedule (and stick to it)
Here is a sample of my schedule for one day during the week
while I was still working at my job before my part time business
had grown enough to become my full time income.
5:30 Alarm goes off. Spend 15 minutes visualizing success. 5:45
Shower, Shave, Dress for success, Breakfast drink 6:15 Scripture
reading and prayer for 30 minutes 6:45 Leave the house for a 15
minute commute to work. 7:00 Job 10:00 Break time - spend 15
minutes walking and visualizing success 12:00 Lunch time - find
a quiet location to read training material for business 1:00
Resume working at job 3:00 Break time - another 15 minute walk
and more visualizing 4:00 Leave work for 15-30 minute commute
home (any necessary errands can be run during this time before I
arrive home. 4:30 Home based business for 3 hours. 7:30 Eat
dinner and spend time with family (children's homework, walking,
games, etc.) 9:00 Spend an hour reading self improvement
material and journalizing 10:00 Sleep
Write down a schedule for each day of the week. Be sure to
schedule time for everything that is important. It is critical
that you make time to do things with your spouse and your
children. Never overlook your physical health, your spiritual
health, and your mental health. Sometimes, there are
unforeseeable issues that come up which require attention. Your
schedule can be flexible, but only to the point that you are
careful that you only change it to do something that will take
you closer to your goals or rewards. Notice that there is no
time set aside in my schedule for television, newspaper reading,
or anything else that will not take me closer to my goals. Those
activities are an enemy of success.
Start over now!
Everything in your life is like it is because of the choices
that you have made. Everything you have done to get where you
are today is already in the past and can't be changed. All you
have left is the present and the future. You have heard the
phrase "Today is the first day of the rest of your life."
Nothing could be more truthful. Forget about the past, except
for what you can learn from it. Start over today and become the
person that you want to be. Begin now to create the new way of
living that you desire. Your new way of life awaits you.