5 Infallible Steps to Self-motivation

  

Believe me when I say that procrastination is your worst enemy. Students in the Master of Marketing program find out pretty soon that with the intensity of the program, there’s simply no time to waste if you want to balance study, health, family, social life and work.

To be classified as a procrastinator, one must master the art of systematically postponing urgent or less pleasurable matters for activities which provide immediate satisfaction. Sound familiar? Well it doesn’t have to be this way.

If like me, you are in remission after years of battling with procrastination, you will understand perfectly the constant struggle to stay on task. Keep reading and find out five infallible steps to self motivation and kick that procrastination habit for good.

Step 1: Know your weakness

It may surprise you to learn that we’re programmed to procrastinate. A psychological study performed by Walter Mischel showed direct links between anxiety, perfectionism, impulsiveness and self doubt in relation to procrastination.

The first step to kicking the habit for good is to identify this weakness and make a conscious effort to see things through to the end. Easier said than done though right? Think of it this way. You wouldn’t go about curing a disease without first getting a diagnosis. 16 Personalities have come up with a free comprehensive personality test to help you learn to understand yourself, others and how to harness your true potential.

Step 2: Set goals

'What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.’ - Henry David Thoreau

Now that you feel all enlightened and ready to take on the world, it’s time to set some goals. Realistic goals, mind you. Start small and write ‘To-Do’ lists each day and take pleasure in ticking off each task as you finish them. The feeling is so addictive, soon your lists will become more ambitious and you will gain the confidence to set some well defined goals.

The best sorts of goals are those you can work towards. According to Locke's goal-setting theory goals should be clearly defined, challenging but not overly difficult, attainable and relevant, have regular feedback and respect task complexity.

Step 3: Self evaluate

Never underestimate the value of self evaluation. It may seem like a waste of time but it is an immensely powerful tool for your personal growth. Take a closer look at your achievements and identify what made them a success. Know your strengths and weaknesses and understand how you can build upon them. Try to get feedback as often as possible and don’t lose confidence if you don’t succeed. For every time something goes wrong, there is always a valuable lesson to be learned.

Step 4: Inspire and be inspired

‘Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in life, it’s about what you inspire others to do.’ - Terry Wildemann

The best way to build confidence within yourself is to help inspire others. Collaborating with others and sharing your own brilliant ideas and experiences will give you the confidence to believe you can succeed.

The world needs more leaders to inspire others to be greater than themselves.  So take what you will from this. The truth is that inspiring other leads to purposefulness and self assurance.

Step 5: Reward yourself

It’s simple really. Just as we are programmed to procrastinate, our brains are also wired to seek rewards. Studies show that one specific neurotransmitter that plays a role in motivation is dopamine. Dopamine impacts the body’s motivation, memory, behaviour and cognition, attention, sleep, mood, learning, and pleasurable reward centres.

You can’t fight science. Whether your reward is tangible or intangible, something small like a cigarette or something big like a holiday. Reward yourself.

So there you have it. Five infallible steps to self motivation. But what it all boils down to is having the confidence to truly believe in yourself. You have all of the tools to achieve your goals and become successful. You are confident, capable and ambitious. The only thing left to do is start now.

Written by:

Alyce Brierley

Graduating student from the Master of Marketing program at the University of Sydney Business School.