The last few months have brought many unforeseen challenges that have caused us to lose sight of our goals and targets, and experience many painful setbacks that we have had to recover from. It’s difficult to stay motivated when things aren’t going our way. Keeping our goals in check is one of life’s biggest challenges, but like everything, this period will pass. Staying motivated is not always easy, but we need not spiral into despair either. Let’s look at a few ways that we can keep sight of our targets and remain positive: take two steps forwards for every step that we have taken back.

Keep it in perspective

It’s easy to let things spiral out of control, especially when you feel helpless to what is going on outside. Everything seems of the highest importance at the moment, which friends you talk to, what you have for dinner, even what program you will watch on Netflix this evening. However, they are only important because you make them important. Gaining perspective on life is one of the best ways to keep your goals in check when things aren’t going your way.

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A new day brings with it a new set of challenges, but also new perspectives. Don’t forget the phrase “sleep on it.” Sometimes it’s best to just deal with it the next day. Not only can this help promote positive thinking and better mental health, but it’s easier to put the problem into perspective with a fresh mind. At the end of the day, decide if the day’s problems belong there, or if a solution can better be found tomorrow in the clear light of day. So much can be gained by just letting the brain and psyche rest overnight.

Exercise regularly

Your body is the vehicle to your success and it will only take care of you when you take care of it. There are many benefits of regular exercise including improved brain function, better memory and thinking skills, and an increased heart rate which promotes the flow of blood and oxygen to your brain. Exercise can also stimulate hormone production and enhance the growth of brain cells. What’s more, regular exercise can help you relax and sleep better which means you can concentrate more the next day. If you aim to exercise at least 15 minutes to one hour every day, you will ensure that you are on the road to a healthy lifestyle. Along with a balanced diet, regular exercise is crucial for achieving your best life and staying focused on your goals.

Establish a morning routine

Our brains like routine, it helps insulate them from decision fatigue and can provide comfort during uncertain times, like now. A morning routine is key to staying productive. If you wake up and jump straight into ‘work mode’ your brain won’t be ready to take in the information which will make it easier for you to lose sight of your goals. Working from home has taken out the commuting part of our morning routine, which can be confusing for those who are used to an initial hour of ‘waking up properly’ and preparing themselves for the working day. Now that you don’t have a morning commute, use the time to focus your mind by some light stretching, or a short yoga or meditation practice. Fresh air can also get you focused so take a short walk around the block to clear your mind.

Try and do these exercises before you check your phone in the morning. This way, you won’t be distracted by what’s happening outside your control. Establish an easy routine that you can stick to and review your goals for the day before you sit down to work. This will help you stay motivated and keep your targets at the forefront of your mind.

Create positive environments

Your home and work environment plays a huge role in your outlook on life, particularly your motivation. It is difficult to stay motivated in a cluttered environment so make sure you have a work friendly space available.

Positive environments aren’t just the physical aspects of your surroundings. In order to stay focused and achieve your goals it is important to have positive influences in your life that support you instead of dragging you down. Remove toxic people from your social circle and instead focus your energy on like-minded people who make it easy to think positive.

Keep learning

Staying motivated and keeping your brain stimulated go hand in hand. There are tons of puzzles that encourage critical thinking and require focus, but many of the skills that teach us how to stay motivated come from academic learning. Study courses like online accelerated BSN programs for non nurses not only help you align knowledge and skills, but make you work towards a fixed target. Intensive full-time programs such as these can direct your focus and improve your ability to concentrate on a single goal. A combination of stimuli and teaching methodologies like online courses, clinical and lab experiences, and hybrid interactive learning courses can also stop you from getting bored easily, which in the long run, will make it easy for you to stick to your goals and stay motivated.

Pace yourself

Social media can make it seem like everyone else is doing it quicker, better, and to a higher standard than us. There is a huge pressure to want to get everything done as soon as possible. However, this need to get to the top can make our lives incredibly overwhelming and can cause us to lose sight of our original goals. As humans, we have limited potential. No one can do everything at once. Therefore, focus on one goal at a time, be good at it, complete it, then move onto the next one. Don’t rush your goals, otherwise it won’t feel nearly as satisfying when you finally reach them.

 

Remember, it’s the small changes that make a huge difference in staying motivated and not losing sight of your targets. If you keep everything in perspective and allow for some mistakes, you will be able to achieve everything that you set your mind to.