7 Ultimate Ways How to Motivate Yourself When Life Happens

It feels like I was celebrating New Year’s Day just yesterday, but now we’re almost at the end of the first month. There’s a lot going on in my personal life, and time seems to be slipping away from me. While I don’t feel comfortable sharing all the details, it’s been causing me a lot of sleepless nights, headaches, and anxiety. Since I started my mindfulness journey, I haven’t had days like this, but lately, my personal life has been interrupting my mindful practices and spirit. Then, I find myself in peace by practicing mindfulness. How? Let me share 7 ways how to motivate yourself when life happens.

Calming your thoughts and finding your center in mindfulness

However, I’ve learned that it’s important to find my center and bring my thoughts down to think clearly and make the best decisions. To do this, I’ve been going to the gym regularly, meditating, and practicing yoga as part of my morning ritual. It’s been surprisingly helpful in bringing me back to my center and reducing my emotional and stress levels. My shortness of breath when thinking about everything going on has also improved.

So, I can confidently say that practicing mindfulness, where you focus on your center and work on your body, can reduce your stress levels and provide a clearer perspective on life. Today, I’d like to discuss achieving mindfulness through daily practices and, consequently, how to motivate yourself!

Understand that we are only human

Let’s face it: our flaws and distractions can easily hinder our goals and resolutions. But that’s okay because being human means we’re not perfect. And let’s be real: life can throw some curveballs that can disrupt our good habits and routines. It’s all part of the journey, so don’t beat yourself up too much. Keep pushing forward, stay motivated, and accept that consistency is sometimes hard.

How to motivate yourself from the situation that demotivate you

When you are feeling distracted or demotivated to stick to your goals, it can be helpful to be mindful and write down what’s bothering you. This will enable you to understand the cause of your distraction and tackle it more easily. Let’s find 7 ways how to motivate yourself.

1. Meditation to clear your mind

To begin, find a quiet and comfortable space in the morning (why morning? Read more about the importance of morning practice). Dim the lights and play calming music if you’d like. Light a candle for a relaxing scent. Close your eyes and think about what has been distracting you and holding you back. It’s time to connect with your inner self and be honest with yourself. 

Sit or lay down, and focus on your breaths. Don’t worry if your thoughts get in and distract you. With every inhalation and exhalation, you can clear your mind and refocus. Just 5-10 minutes of meditation can help you feel more centered and calm (read more about how to practice mindful meditation).

2. Leave the issue on the paper

Now, open your journal or take a clean piece of paper. Write down the things that distract and demotivate you. Be truthful with yourself since you are the only one who will read it. Once you have identified the issue, try to understand why it bothers you and the possible solution. Don’t try to find the solution right away. If there isn’t any solution, that is also okay. Just acknowledge the issue and leave it on the paper. This way, you can distance yourself from the problem and move on for the day. Although this may not be easy, it’s important to distract yourself to gain a new perspective. By stepping aside, you may be able to see the solution more clearly.

3. Find healthy exercise to sweat yourself or make your body busy

Yoga and jogging are great exercises that distract from everyday life. Yoga allows you to focus on your breath and positions, while jogging allows you to listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks while enjoying the fresh air and keeping your body active. Alternatively, you can hit the gym, lift weights, stretch your body, and challenge yourself to sweat out any stress. If you don’t have time to incorporate exercise into your daily routine, try easy, mindful exercise practices that can be done anytime. Regardless of the type of exercise, you’ll notice that your mind becomes more apparent as you focus on the physical activity.

4. Stick to your goals

It is important to stick to your goals, even in the face of distractions. While distractions may seem like a good excuse to give up on your goals, most distractions are temporary. Remember, your goals are for your own personal development and mindful living, so it’s crucial to stay committed to them. Don’t let temporary distractions sway you from the promises you made to yourself. Stay focused and determined to achieve your goals. Sticking to your goals provides motivation and energy in any situation.

5. Talking to people who care about you but are not emotionally attached to your issue

Talking to people about your problems can be really helpful, especially those who know you well but are not emotionally invested in your situation. Such individuals can provide an objective perspective and offer practical advice you might not have considered. Sometimes, when we’re too close to a problem, it can be hard to see the bigger picture, and that’s where talking to others can be really beneficial. Additionally, sharing your concerns with someone else can be a great way to relieve stress and feel less alone in your struggles. So, if you’re going through a tough time, don’t hesitate to contact friends, family members, or even a professional counselor for support and guidance.

6. Make yourself distance from your own issue

As humans, we tend to get emotionally attached to our own problems and sometimes get so engrossed in them that we fail to see the best way out. It is always advisable to take a step back and distance yourself from your own thoughts. This can help you to gain a fresh perspective and view your issue objectively. When you are not attached to your thoughts, you are better equipped to examine the situation more clearly, make better decisions, and find the most efficient solutions to your problems. So, when you find yourself struggling with an issue, remember to take a step back, breathe, and try to view it from a different angle; it is the fastest way how to motivate yourself!

7. Move on and be kind to yourself

When something goes wrong, we often try to find someone or something to blame. However, this approach doesn’t help us cope with the situation. Instead, it’s important to accept what has happened and focus on finding a solution. Remember to be gentle with yourself and recognize that making mistakes is a natural part of life. Take the time to understand your current situation and focus on what you can do to move forward. With each new experience, you have the opportunity to learn and improve. Above all, be kind to yourself – you are your own best friend and companion throughout your life journey, and it is how to motivate yourself in any situation.

Mindfulness in Storm

Every morning, I reset myself and give a good 10 minutes of my day to focus on the issue. When my mind is cleared up by practicing yoga and meditation, I am at my best self to focus on my issue in a less emotional way.

Remember to distance yourself from your thoughts and try to look at your issues objectively. With the 7 ways how to motivate yourself mentioned above, you can find your way out of any situation. Life can be tough and unpredictable, but we all have the ability to learn how to deal with it. With mindfulness as our guide, we can overcome any obstacle that comes our way. I am sure 7 tips on how to motivate yourself can help you get out of the storm you are currently in. Hang in there. After the storm, there will be a ray of sunshine!