7 Powerful Ways to Stay Motivated

Hey Hear Her Roar Community! So excited to be bringing this week’s blog via an incredible guest, Janelle Lynnae. Janelle was gracious enough to have me on her podcast, Next Level Confident—check out that episode here—and in return, provided some amazing goodies for us.

You'll want to read this if you are a woman that just went to an event, finished reading a powerful book, or listened to a podcast that REALLY motivated you! You were so motivated that you finally decided to get off your butt and take action on that goal you've been thinking about getting started on for FOREVER. Your goal might be around finances, fitness, dating, work boundaries, the list goes on and on. 

So you set this big, audacious goal in place and it's been a few weeks... the initial motivation is starting to wear off a bit. Getting out of bed early is getting harder and harder by the day.  Cutting back on spending to pay off your debt is starting to suck a little more. Your work boundaries are getting looser and your computer screen is staying open later and later...

Let's talk about 7 ways to stay motivated after your initial motivation wears off.

1. Remind yourself of your deepest why. Not the surface level why.

So ask yourself, what will doing this uncomfortable thing lead to? For example: "If I have the scary conversation and ask my boss for a raise, then I'l make more money, so that my husband and I can afford to go on our dream vacation to the Maldives!"

The obvious "why" is that you want to make more money. The deeper why is connected to the incredible experiences and memories this money will provide you. Take a moment to close your eyes and visualize yourself already having accomplished your goal and you're on that vacation, or whatever it is for you.

How does it feel? Write down the 5 emotions this evokes.

2. And now, ask yourself, "what will happen if I don't take action now?"

Say you've been talking about starting a regular exercise routine for years, you got all motivated at a workshop, you started exercising regularly, and then a few weeks later, real life set in. And it's hard! And waking up early sucks! Imagine what will happen if you don't continue exercising? Get dramatic with it.

Picture 10 years down the road.. you never got in the habit, you're super unhealthy, you likely have a few health conditions, you can barely walk up stairs, let alone go on a hike with friends. Visualize yourself giving up right now...

how does that feel? Write down the 5 emotions this evokes.

3. Have massive amounts of compassion for yourself.

Now that you've visualized the amazing emotions of having accomplished your goal or habit, and having visualized the negative impact of never getting started, it's time to talk about the fact that you are an imperfect human that will likely make mistakes along the way! And that's totally normal.

Instead of beating yourself up for being "imperfect" or falling off the wagon for a few days, find all the reasons to be proud of yourself. Studies in psychology show that positive reinforcement works better than negative reinforcement. What are you proud of yourself for today? "I'm proud of myself the 9 days I did drink 75 ounces of water!" Heck, maybe it's just "I'm proud of myself for getting out of bed today."

Jot down a list of 10 things you're doing really well right now. List each win like this: "I'm proud of myself for _____"

4. Find accountability from someone who is not your spouse or bff..

As awesome as these people are, they are often too close to you to be true accountability buddies. Especially if they're struggling in the area that you are! Maybe you want to become debt free. Learn from someone who is great with their finances, paid off their debt, and are now debt free. Learn from someone who is walking the walk. Learn from someone who can hold you to a higher standard.

Finding accountability often means having vulnerable conversations with people you normally wouldn't. Lean in.

Have one vulnerable conversation and open up to someone that you admire, let them in on your "mess", ask for support and accountability.

5. Get off your social media & monitor your screen time.

Nothing can distract you quite the

way instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin can. It's easy to get lost in the screen for an hour and it felt like only 10 minutes! If you're really trying to level up in a certain area of life, get off social media for a few weeks or even a full month. You'll have so much free time that your goals will be much easier to kick in the butt! If you don't think you can go that long, simply go into your phone settings and put 30 minute app limits in place.

You'll quickly see how much time you are spending on social media.

Write down a few boundaries you'd like to implement when it comes to your phone, and write down WHY you think that implementing these phone boundaries will help you accomplish your goal.

6. Pair tasks you dislike with tasks you do like!

You want to start speaking up more and sharing your ideas in meetings at work? Go shopping, get a couple cute new outfits and start showing up to meetings extra swaggy for an extra boost of confidence!

You want to keep your house clean? Why don't you listen to a book on Audible or call your sister while you clean?

You want to eat more greens? Turn your favorite song on each time you eat the greens so you associate the greens with happy music!

These is always a way to pair tasks you don't like with a task you do like.

Write down 3 ways you could pair your goal with something enjoyable.

7. Set rewards at scheduled times to celebrate your success along the way.

Because we often have such high expectations for ourselves, once we achieve a monumental achievement within our goal, we think to ourselves "well yeah, duh, I was supposed to have lost these 5lbs like 10 years ago, so big woop-dedoo!" Wrong! Please celebrate your small successes along the way as this will propel you to continue making progress.

Write down at least 3 different rewards you will give yourself along the way.

Bonus Tip:

Speak to yourself like the badass queen that you are! The words coming out of your mouth are powerful. Speak things into existence that aren't yet true. Be intentional about how you speak about yourself while you're achieving this goal. Comments like "I'm awkward" or "I suck at this" or "I always give up around month 2" even if you're "joking" are not okay. Self deprecating comments aren't cute.

Write down 5 powerful affirmations about yourself.

About Our Guest Contributor

Janelle Lynnae is the Founder of Next Level Confident. She is a Workshop Facilitator and Confidence Coach with years of experience teaching women how to break through psychological barriers unknowingly placed on self. 

She primarily works with women in STEM industries like Cisco, Madwire, and non-profits like STEMblazers, giving concrete tools to building confidence in the workplace.

The Next Level Confident team is passionate about helping women in male-dominated industries step into their power so that they see themselves as the valuable assets they are. 

Janelle lives in San Diego, CA, and loves boxing, yoga, hanging out on the beach, reading personal development books & dancing with her husband in the kitchen. 

To learn more about her mission, head to www.nextlevelconfident.com