We all have those tasks that we put off until the last minute or just never do at all because we can't find the motivation to do it. Then our tasks pile up and we feel that sense of urgency to finish them, but we still can't bring ourselves to do them. The problem can be found in the way we view the tasks. If we don't want to do them in the first place, then chances are we're not going to be very motivated to finish them, and if the task seems impossible then we're much more likely to put it off so as not to stress ourselves out with a seemingly daunting task. This article is all about helping you overcome your procrastination habit and finding the motivation to get things done. Here are three different ways to find motivation for everyday tasks:
1. Motivation to Study
First and foremost, your study area should be neat. A disorganized desk will only distract you because of all of the clutter in your field of vision. So before you do anything else, take a few minutes to throw out old papers and tidy up your space before you sit down to study.
Once your area is tidy, then you can begin studying. Your phone shouldn't be near you and if you must have it next to you, then it should be on "Do Not Disturb" so notifications don't interrupt you. Some people enjoy music while they study, and if this is you, opting for a soft playlist is the better route. Lo-fi or classical music is a good genre for this situation.
Some people like the Pomodoro method in which you work for 25 minutes followed by short intervals of 3-5 minute breaks. Others prefer to work straight through their homework and study materials like checking them off of a to-do list. Either way is fine so long as you're being effective. Looking at your notes isn't actively studying them. Re-writing notes can help if you're a kinesthetic learner, finding pictures and graphs are good for visual learners, and YouTube videos that review a certain topic can be helpful for auditory learners. There's plenty of resources for each type of learner even if you're a combination of the types.
During your study session, if you feel yourself becoming tired, don't force it. That's just as counterproductive as not studying at all. Take a 30-minute nap and get back to it if you're feeling sluggish. If you find yourself losing motivation to study, then it helps sometimes if you remind yourself as to why you're studying in the first place. We often think of studying as cramming information in for a test the night before and just memorizing everything, but we should think of it as learning and retaining the information. Thinking about the consequences of bad grades can also be an incentive for you to study longer, especially if you're not doing well in the class. Treating yourself to a few minutes of phone time after a certain amount of study time helps you manage your time better than keeping your phone right next to your textbook.
We procrastinate in the first place because studying seems like a daunting task, mostly because we wait until the night before to start. Breaking up topics and doing a set amount every night is much more effective than doing it all the night before and will make you less likely to put it aside to do something else. At the end of the day, interrupting your study session to play video games or check social media isn't worth sacrificing a good grade.
2. Motivation to Clean
We all hate doing chores around the house because it's been drilled into us that it's something that we have to do rather than something we want to do. We've been conditioned to view chores as something distasteful and that viewpoint stays with us into adulthood unless we do something to change our perspective.
Cleaning is probably the most labor-intensive chore there is because of all the different things that need cleaning. Clothes, bathrooms, kitchens, our own bedrooms, work areas, the list is endless. I used to hate cleaning all of these things, but within the past 6 months, something changed in me where I just hated seeing clutter and actually wanted to clean. This probably stemmed from my decision to transition into a minimalist lifestyle.
Clutter bothers me because it implies that the objects don't have a space that they belong in and they just exist. I cleaned every part of my house that I was responsible for and threw out the things I never used and didn't need. Afterward, it made my cleaning a lot easier because there was less stuff to clean and overall my space felt cleaner with fewer things. Now, if you're not into this kind of lifestyle, you can still enjoy cleaning by adding fun things. Tidying your room with music in the background can help make the activity enjoyable. If you have siblings, making it a competition between who can clean the most in a certain amount of time can motivate you to clean more than you normally would.
On its own, cleaning is a good lifestyle practice for many reasons, the biggest being good hygiene. Regularly disinfecting and tidying your space leads to better hygiene overall and helps you develop good habits like self-discipline.
3. Motivation to Practice Self-Care
I know this seems like a weird one to bring up, but when you really think about it, how often do you set aside time for yourself? You might think that playing video games or hanging out with your friends is good enough free time, but it's crucial to set aside time to be alone and take care of yourself.
The first step to doing this is making a schedule. Literally, on your calendar, mark a day to be your self-care/mental health day. On this day, you won't take calls from work, you can miss that day of school, you can take time to be by yourself and recharge. One day of missed work or school won't kill you and in the long run, it'll save yourself a lot of time being stressed.
Once you know what day you're taking off, it's also important to know what you're actually going to do. The most popular options include:
-Bubble baths
-Reading a good book
-Making yourself a cup of hot tea
-Tidying up your living space at a slow, and calm pace
-Spending the day with your pets if you have any
-Being out with nature (hiking, biking, running, etc)
-Working out
-Yoga
-Meditation
Anything that allows you time to reflect on yourself and do something for yourself is considered self-care and is good for giving yourself a break. Often times we feel like our schedules are too busy to set aside time to just relax. I think I can speak for a lot of people when I say that a lot of times if I'm just relaxing, I feel guilty because I feel like there's work I should be doing. If you're constantly working without taking a break, you'll burn out quick and just make yourself feel worse in the long run.
