Motivation is a funny thing – you can create it or destroy it with a single thought, and it can be the single most important factor in any successful venture. If your goal is to work from anywhere and live a location independent lifestyle, then you’re going to need motivation in bucket loads – I’m sure that you know as well as I do that creating a business or situation whereby you are able to travel the world as and when you please is no mean feat, but just look at all these people out there doing it! It all comes down to how much you want it, and what you are willing to do to get it. If you’ve decided that this is definitely the right path for you, then you obviously have a full-tank of motivation ready to drive you to the top of your game – congratulations!
In my opinion, the thing that differentiates the ‘dreamers’ and the ‘do-ers’ is motivation, so with this taken care of, we just need to make sure that your motivation level stays topped up, week after week, so we can get you to where you need to be.
Everyone has motivational struggles at times, even the most enthusiastic of people, so don’t be too hard on yourself – just pick yourself up and and re-focus with my tips below. These six methods help me stay to focused on a regular basis, so when you’re feeling a little sub-optimal in the motivational department, then give them a go – I promise you’ll be back in no time!
Be Specific
What is it exactly that you want? Do you want to quit your job in a year to go live in Thailand? Start a travel blog within six months? Whatever it is, you can’t achieve it unless you define it, so get out some coloured pens and a big sheet of paper and stick it up somewhere you can see it every day. Try to make your goals measurable eg. To have set up X number of websites within X months, or To have travelled to X countries by X, so that you are able to know exactly when you have achieved it. Knowing exactly what you are working towards in your mind will help you stay enthusiastic day in and day out.
Have A Plan
Succeeding in becoming location independent is a bit like a game of chess – you need a strategy as well as skill to win. So now that you have a clear definition of your goals, you need to put in place a plan so that you are able to achieve them. Goals on their own can be huge motivation depleters, but with some structure around them you’ll feel more at ease, and therefore more motivated. Like your goal setting, try to make your plan measurable, and break it down into daily, weekly, monthly and yearly plans to keep you focused and on track to hit your target.
Assemble An ‘Emergency Inspiration Pack’
You can be going along great guns, working through your detailed plan when BOOM!, the Apathy Curse hits you like a ton of bricks. This is completely normal and happens to everyone, so you just need to be prepared to outsmart it whenever it chooses to rear it’s ugly head. Different things work for different people, but personally for me whenever disaster strikes and all I feel like doing is throwing in the towel, I get online and start reading about other people who’ve made it, or who are out their achieving their goals. It doesn’t even have to be exactly related to what you want to do, but I find that seeing others who have triumphed really helps me to brush myself off and get back on the wagon. Have a few links saved on your laptop, or newspaper articles on your desk so you are ready whenever the need arises.
Remember Why You’re Doing This
When the going gets a little tougher than usual I find it really helps to just take a moment, have a few deep breaths and remember why I’m doing this. For me, I want freedom, creativity and the ability to spend time wherever in the world I like – whether thats with my family and friends at home, or on a beach somewhere in Hawaii. When I feel a little overwhelmed I just bring my thoughts back to this and suddenly I’m rearing to go again. Funny what a little bit of perspective can do!
Be Kind To Yourself
Sure, you need to be self-starting and committed to get to where you want to be, but if you’re having a horrible day, or feeling under the weather, then you need to give yourself the permission to relax for a little while too. Don’t be too hard on yourself – your goals aren’t going to implode on themselves if you take a day or two off if you’re feeling ill or just need a break, so invest that time to get yourself better and you’ll be back fighting fit and ready to go in no time.
Celebrate Your Successes
When you achieve one of your goals – whether it be a major one, or just getting done what you needed to for the week, make sure you celebrate! This is such an important one and many people think you should hold off on patting yourself on the back until you have ticked off everything on your goal sheet, but it’s so crucial that you congratulate yourself regularly for all the hard work you are putting in. You could be choosing to go out every night, spending all your time out partying or just be lazing around on your arse watching TV – but you’re not. You’re doing something that not many people have the commitment and ability to do, and you’re making something of yourself and not just settling for the status quo. Thats pretty damn amazing when you think about it!
Photo Credits – Thanks to Kryten and Marcin Wichary – (Attribution License)
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Thank you so much — I needed this post today <3
Thank you!! Glad it was helpful! : )