How to be productive when you are not feeling motivated

It can be very frustrating knowing that you have a ton of work to do but very minimal motivation to get you started. Even after commencing, how do you complete your tasks? Feeling stuck in a rut usually has us in the downside. This demotivation, however, shouldn’t spell doom for the individual.

Below is a list of eight tips and tricks that can boost your productivity in no time

Find out what is blocking you

The heart is willing but the mind is weak. Demotivation starts with a block. Most times this block is as a result of burn out/mental fatigue. A long cycle of continuous work and stress without well-deserved breaks can leave the mind feeling like mush. Other times it could be a fear of the task ahead. You probably are estimating the stress and energy required to expend, so you keep avoiding it. You may need to take your time with this point as sorting emotions/feelings is quite needed.

Do what makes you happy/relaxed

Have you heard of the happy hormones? They are Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, and Endorphins. They contribute to an overall feel of exciting boost. We usually feel our best when excited about something. Doing something that relaxes or make us happy can help transfer the elevated mood to the task at hand. Happiness stimulates motivation; having an hour of happy hormone boost is quite effective in tackling a lack of motivation.

Ensure your basic needs are met

Some of us are unable to concentrate on a task when plagued with hunger pangs. Feeling sleepy and working is sure to cause sloppy results if care is not taken. So do eat before commencing that task, get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep daily. Do not neglect your body alarms; so you can be on your best.

Make to-do lists your friend

Arrange tasks in order of priority. This is very useful for when you are dreading a task. The one that stresses you out the most is what you should try to complete first. If you have smaller tasks that build up to it, conquer them by setting a timer for the completion of each, you’ll see they are not as tedious as you thought, do ensure to take short breaks in-between tasks. Make your daily to-do lists realistic.

Unplug from social media

Turn off your data, and if possible, your phone. End all social sites on your computer too. This is to avoid distractions when aiming to do your tasks. Getting caught up in social media is a slippery slope; one which you could be on for an hour and be oblivious.

Organize your space

Sometimes we do not feel like working because our workspace is cluttered. Here’s a tip, attempt to clear up at the end of your daily tasks, that way by the following day, seeing an organized space would be refreshing to your sight.

Reward yourself

This is a mind trick. Usually, we feel more eager to perform when there is something to be gained at the end. Little rewards go a long way to keeping us productive. It could be anything from your favorite drink to watching an episode of your favorite series. Try not to binge.

Take a huge break

Some days are tough and all the points don’t work. At this point, it is advised you stay off work completely at least for a whole day. Have a staycation and unplug from the world. Burnouts can leave us high and dry.
If you find yourself in a constant state of demotivation, and after about 3 days of vacation/staycation you still do not feel the desire to get some work done, it’s suggested you seek help. One may be suffering from mild depression.

 

Happy Productivity!

10 Financial Goals to set for yourself

2019 is almost over; how much have you saved? Invested? Spent on a vacation? Emergencies? What new thing have you gotten for yourself?

Finances can be tricky: it always feels like the money is never enough or these responsibilities keep springing up from all over. It is important not to leave things to neither chance nor luck nor fully depend on others. Financial goal setting is akin to planning which indicates a sense of direction for the individual. While things may not always go as intended, at least you won’t be caught unprepared.

Here are 10 financial realistic goals to set for yourself, some are long term, some short but they all provide sustainability;

1. Don’t add any more debt

Hello! We are trying to pay off existing debts already, please don’t get into more. Fact is, if you cannot pay for something on the spot without a grumble, you cannot afford it. Loans seem pretty but they are financial chains, do your very best not to get bound. Don’t make financial promises either, they are debts. The general idea is to either do it immediately or not at all, thinking about what you owe is enough to cause health issues.

2. Set up an emergency fund account

Sometimes hospital bills come calling, an unplanned event that is unavoidable manifests, a vacation well-deserved has to be taken; all these are real things that require money. An ideal rule is to set aside 10% of monthly earnings for emergencies strictly. This is to avoid dipping into your savings when the time comes.

3. Always budget your expenses

To avoid overspending, budget what you need to spend on. Know those that are fixed like rent, utility or gas and know those you can easily do away with or work towards. Try to make all expenses minimal.

4. Learn to live below what you can afford

This is related to the above but in no means is its frugality. Life is unpredictable and this shows you don’t consume all in one sitting. There is a lot to save; you only need to set aside certain percentages for them. Living below what you can afford will help you have financial fresh air as you are not living from paycheck to paycheck.

5. Learn skills that can increase your income

Take up career improvement courses, attend leadership seminars, masterclasses, do a masters degree if you can afford it, professional courses and be more relevant in your field.

6. Create multiple income streams

Even if it is just two. Realize not everyone can do what you have ability to. Find a way to meet needs and monetize it. There is talent and there are skills, use both wisely to your financial advantage.

7. Plan to do work that you love

This way it would not feel like a chore. While circumstances do not always allow us to chase our dreams wholeheartedly, doing something you love as a side job brings you fulfillment which can be transferred unto your regular job. Really try to figure out how your gift can meet needs and solve problems.

8. Invest/save wisely

Asides from saving for rainy days, do your best to invest too. Don’t leave cash lying fallow in your account for too long. Find an investment opportunity (long term advisably) with a reasonable ROI and put some money into it. This is another income stream once you start earning returns. Buy shares if you can afford it. A good savings rule is 20% of monthly earnings into a designated account.

9. Save up wisely for retirement

It is never too early to start. While most companies pay some of your salaries to your pension account, you could add about 5% more monthly or yearly, from any of your accounts, it’s your choice. You are planning for the far future, a long term plan.

10. Set financial milestones

Have realistic yearly set savings, emergency, investment and retirement money goals, so that by the end of the year you have something to measure your progress with. Also, aim to record your monthly income flow including expenses; this would help you know what seems to be boring holes into your finances. A simple knowledge of record-keeping is very useful.

Happy New Year — Welcome To 2020

Can you believe it is 2020? It is a whole new decade!

Indeed time flies. We can agree that 2019 literally went by the twinkle of an eye.

As expected, 2020 is everyone’s best year yet! Some of us have, while some are still trying to come up with a master plan that will change their lives for better in 2020. Some of us are still wondering how 2019 went by without achieving any of our set goals.

What category do you fall under?

Were you able to accomplish most of your goals for last year, or you didn’t even get close to achieving any of your goals for the year? Your answer to the questions doesn’t matter anymore because there’s nothing you can do about the past.

Newsflash!

It’s the 7th of January 2020 already! And I bet this year will go by faster than previous years. So, don’t feel too bad if you failed to accomplish your goals in 2019 because this year is offering you another opportunity to become the person of your dream.

Kudos if all your goals in 2019 were achieved. However, we can’t say what 2020 has in store for you and I. We are only certain that it will take more than just writing your goals on a piece of paper or designing a vision board. You need commitment, consistency, hard work, patience, and determination.

“It takes determination to achieve a new and greater height, it takes much more determination to remain at your newfound height”

Hence, if you worked for four hours to be successful in 2019, you need eight hours in 2020 to maintain or increase your wealthy status.

What Are Your Visions For 2020?

What are your goals for the New Year? Have you mapped out a strategy that will enhance your chances of achieving your goals for the year? Start by setting SMART goals for this year while you apply a better strategy to achieve them. Detect the roadblocks that prevented you from reaching your full potentials in 2019 and learn from the mistakes.

“Failure shouldn’t discourage you from trying again because every successful human had tasted failure before becoming a well-known individual in the world”

If James Dyson could finally succeed after 15 years of trials, who said you can’t invent that tire-less bike. If Wole Soyinka could become the first African to win a Nobel Prize in Literature award after failing the English language in nine SSCE exams, who said you can’t get admission into the university of your choice in 2020?

Thomas Edison failed 999 times before inventing his electric light bulb. Walt Disney of the Disney cartoon network is another man whose story should inspire you. All you need to do is staying true to yourself and find a way (action) to achieve your goals for the year. Achieving your goals and visions for this year requires a few things from you. They are:

1. New Year Resolutions That Are backed Up By Swift Action

New year resolutions are believed to be one of the greatest strategies deployed by everyone who wants to have a successful year, as it will bring the best out of them.

Unfortunately, 80% of people who made New Year’s resolutions failed to keep them because they lack the willpower to change for the better. They also fail to keep their resolutions because they didn’t take swift action towards becoming better.

“A failure to take precise and deliberate action is the reason why so many New Year’s resolutions and other goals fail.”

What are your resolutions for 2020? Are you willing to right all your wrong actions that made 2019 a forgettable year? If yes, take a step today and stop thinking about the unchangeable past!

Quick Advice: Your New Year resolutions must propel you towards achieving your targets for the year. Your resolutions must be vision-bound, as that will make 2020 a fruitful year for you.

For instance, if your goal is to have £20m in your account by December, your resolution for the year must include spending less and working hard(er) because they will improve your possibility of reaching your goal.

Do you want to gain admission? You must study more than ever. Yours is to become a well-known online affiliate marketer? Then, you have to spend more on the internet and learn from experts.

2. Spiritual and Mental Alertness

The year 2020 will be an ordinary year for you if you fail to acknowledge the fact that there’s a need to be spiritually and mentally strong.

I have come to realise that the spiritual controls the physical. Until you’re spiritually strong, you can’t have a successful 2020 — there’s no magic to that.

Stay glued to whatever you believe is working for you in the spiritual world as that will help build your mental strength to overcome many challenges and unavoidable setbacks.

3. Determination and Discipline

You need to be determined to achieve your goals for the year. Determination is the strong willpower that keeps you going when everything is saying otherwise. You need it to enhance your chances of breaking your limit this year.

However, mere willpower won’t be enough to see you through the year’s challenges if it’s not backed up by discipline.

Discipline simply means having a high regard for your reputation. Whatever you don’t want, don’t do it to others. Don’t strive to get what you don’t need. Discipline helps you to contend with what you have.

4. Commitment and Consistency

Until you commit yourself towards achieving your goals, you can’t become a better person in life. You must give all your power to realise the 2020 goals.

Just like commitment, consistency is also important because the more you continue to engage in one activity, the higher your chances of breaking new ground.

What are you planning to start in 2020? I must let you know that it’s better not to begin a project than ending it halfway. Consistency is a trademark of a successful individual, learn to develop it as part of your all-time attributes.

As you already know, your destiny is in your hand, and 2020 is what you make of it. Whatever you sow into the year, is what you will reap at the end of it… Be good to everyone, stay focused and have a fruitful year ahead.