A Guide For Being Successful and Motivated

I'll just start out by saying, motivation isn't anything on its own.

I have had to learn that motivation doesn't just come out of nowhere and it won't keep you going in the long run. In order to stay moving forward, you have to be able to pull motivation out of the little things and turn it into something rather than just relying on a sudden burst of energy.

Motivation and being successful are strange things to me. I like to have "how to's" and step by step lists in order for me to feel accomplished, but there are no true lists that work for everyone on how to be motivated and successful.

I have been in a constant loop of finding a rhythm to my daily routine and then failing or getting bored. Taking my vitamins, waking up between 7-8am, being active, meal prepping, making my bed, getting my work done early in the week, setting my clothes out, and listening to inspiring podcasts are all things that I have tried to do to help give me the push of motivation. Some of these things I have made a habit of doing every day which is great, but not all of the, and some seem almost impossible. I kept getting frustrated in this cycle of wins and fails and it had been so frustrating.

I have a feeling a lot of people have the same issue. They don't know where to start or how to make the right habits when it comes to being motivated, so I think I've found what helps me and maybe it will help you too.

I started with 20 little slips of paper and started writing down weekly goals so I could focus on one thing at a time rather than trying to commit to a long list of to do's every day. My roommate got roped into this with me so we could hold each other accountable. We decided every Monday of the week we will pull a new slip out and focus on that one goal for the whole week. I hung it up in a place I see every day so I don't forget. My very first one was to take all my vitamins every day, and I actually was able to complete this perfectly when in the past it was difficult for me to remember.

Narrowing down my focus has made me feel so much more accomplished by the end of the week and actually gets me excited for the next one. It doesn't matter how small, large, easy, or hard the task is, the only thing that matters is that you complete it. This week is actually "write and post one blog post", so that's how I got here.

Some examples of my weekly mini tasks for inspiration:

- Drink 2 full hydros a day

- Plan a girls night out

- Read 5 pages from a book a day

- Get all work done before Friday

- Exercise once every day (weights, outdoor walk, cardio)

- Social media free week

- No processed sugars week

- Alcohol free week

- No eating out

- Start an investment account

- Closet clean out (choose # of items to get rid of)

- Once a day meditation

- Get up by 7:00

- Show three random acts of kindness

- Cook a healthy homemade meal for dinners