5 Tips to Increase Motivation

Motivation can be found in many (surprising) places. Boost yours today.

This week I had the pleasure of delivering three sessions at the most recent Foundations Entertainment University event in Dallas. Educational events are a big source of motivation for me because I get inspired by meeting new people to share ideas and learn about their backgrounds and reasons for joining the industry.

When you’re trying to open or operate a business, the hectic nature of those efforts can really take a toll on your motivation. This dip can cause tasks to take longer than they should and negatively affect your ability to focus. The good news is that motivation is easy to find if you know where to look. Here are five of our best tips to help increase your motivation today.

No. 1: Host a creativity session.

Nothing inspires me more than new ideas. We’re getting close to the end of the year and it’s time to start planning for 2023 if you haven’t already. Get a team together to brainstorm ideas for facility improvements or marketing events or promotions for the year to come.

Schedule the date and time for your meeting and ask participants to come prepared with their answers to the following questions:

1. What’s one thing we’ve done in 2022 that you want us to repeat in 2023?
2. What should we do differently this year?
3. What ideas do you have for fun/exciting/engaging events or activities for guests or staff in 2023 (e.g. a fun marketing event, volunteer team building, new promotion, or party package)?
4. What do you think we’ll need in order to bring your ideas to life?

During the session, capture all ideas on a whiteboard or flip chart. Then once you’ve got them all down, choose the top ideas you definitely want to put in motion. From there, set your project tasks and timeline and make your plan of action. Use this blog on effective project management to help.

No. 2: Get outside for fresh air.

Have you ever looked up from your desk only to realize you haven’t stepped outside in many hours? Being closed up in a building all day and night can take a toll on your overall attitude. Try to take even a few minutes every day to get outside and go for a walk. Fresh air and sunshine have been proven to help boost mood, reduce blood pressure, and increase overall productivity. Sometimes just taking a small break and then coming back to a project or problem can help provide some clarity.

No. 3: Align your goals with your purpose.

As a leader or entrepreneur, you likely set business or personal goals. Regularly review those goals to determine how well-aligned your goals are with your overall purpose or values. Just seeing how each action you take or milestone you reach gets you closer to your values can be motivating and help you keep driving forward.

No. 4: Get positive.

At the risk of sounding overly peppy, if you want to be motivated, you’re going to need a positive mindset. Develop a positive attitude by surrounding yourself with positive people, searching for valuable lessons from difficult situations or mistakes, and even practicing a gratitude habit. Little changes can make a big difference in how you feel about the world around you.

No. 5: Seek new growth or learning opportunities.

We talked recently about growth resources that can help you improve in any area of your business or personal life. Learning opportunities can make you feel excited and engaged. But this doesn’t necessarily mean books and podcasts. Consider developing a new workout routine, planning a vacation, or picking up a new hobby. Having activities that you enjoy to look forward to can go a long way to helping you see what a rich life you lead and keep your motivation high.

Whether it’s choosing one or more of these tips, or reflecting back on a time when you felt the most motivated, inspiration can be found in many different places. How do you like to stay motivated? Share with us in the comments!