How to Stay Motivated through Tough Times

It’s not an exaggeration to say that for most of us, 2020 was one of the most challenging years in modern memory. Even with hope on the horizon, the day-to-day issues linger for many. Millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners have had to reimagine workspaces, routines, and even product and service offerings. When difficult times extend beyond a few weeks or even months, what can you do to stay motivated and encouraged?

Focus on What Inspires You

When motivation doesn’t come to you naturally, you must seek it out on purpose. Whatever you turn to for inspiration, go there more often. Listen to your favorite podcasts. Read inspiring books. Take a walk to clear your head. Hop on a Zoom call with other entrepreneurs. Whenever you start to feel discouraged, turn to these resources to renew your focus.

Kick the Procrastination Habit

Procrastination is your enemy, especially now. The longer you put something off, the harder it is to find the motivation to do it. One useful technique is to do the most difficult or tedious thing at the start of your workday, so you’re free to spend the rest of the day doing the things you actually like about your work. Another technique is to reward yourself for doing the things you’re procrastinating on—in other words, create motivation for yourself.

Practice Self-Care

We tend to get unmotivated when we aren’t feeling our best—when we’re tired, run-down, discouraged, etc. Make self-care a priority in your life. Eat healthy food. Get some exercise. Get more sleep. Learn some mindfulness techniques. Pamper yourself once in a while. When you feel better, you’ll work better.

Plan for the Future

The best thing about tough times is that they don’t last. “This too shall pass” sounds cliché, but it’s true. What do you see yourself doing when the tough times are over? What will you do then that you can’t do now? Make a plan for your business that extends beyond just muddling through the here and now. Casting a fresh vision for the future can give you hope and motivate you to keep moving forward day to day until things get better.

Change Your Environment

Sometimes, a simple change of surroundings can improve motivation. If you find yourself avoiding your home office, for example, going to a coworking space may be just what you need to jumpstart your productivity. Not only can a coworking space change up your surroundings, but being around other motivated people can spark your own motivation, as well. To learn more about the benefits of coworking and find out what we have available, give us a call today at 720.600.0065.