how to stay motivated

As someone who suffers from clinical depression, it can be extremely hard to stay motivated in anything I do for a long period of time. The thoughts and emotions running through my mind can be debilitating, chaining me down to my bed, and keeping me shut out from the world. When a full time graduate class schedule and a job is added to the load, it can be near impossible to feel motivated. Some people have that and more. Whether you're a student, a parent, a business owner, suffer from depression, or don't know what you're doing with your life, I've compiled a few tips that can help you stay motivated through it all. 

Photo by Cristofer Jeschke.

ask yourself, "what am i passionate about?"

Photo by Kate Darmody.

What are you passionate about? What drives you? What makes you get up in the morning? What are you excited to invest time in? The answer to this can vary. Maybe you're passionate about cannabis like I am. Maybe you're passionate about owning a business, fitness, organization, art, music, having a healthy relationship, etc.

Whatever it may be, passion facilitates desire. That desire is the driving force behind motivation. When you have a desire for something, you are more likely to do it. You are more likely to invest time, energy, and resources into it. 

Create goals.

Once you have determined what you are passionate about, create goals. What do you want? What are you working for? What are you moving towards? Goals can be small or large. Goals can be long term or short term. Goals can focalize into one parameter; fitness, career, education, personal, etc.  

When you've created a goal, write them down. Put it in a place where you can easily access it for a daily reminder. Pull it out when you need motivation. You can also create a spread in your bullet journal dedicated to your goals like I did. 

If writing it down doesn't work for you, create a vision board. Use images and words that signify what you are working for. Hang it up in your room so you'll constantly be reminded.

make an action plan.

Photo by Med Badr Chemmaoui.

You've got your goals written down, now what? As awesome as it would be to just have goals and work towards them, the path to achieve them isn't always clear. 

It can be beneficial to make an action plan. How will you achieve those goals you created? What do you need to make it happen? What steps do you need to take before you can reach that goal? Is there one step, or twenty? 

An action plan is the crux of motivation. You are putting your goals into practice. Keep it simple.
If your goal is to make straight A's this semester, your action plan may look like this:

• study for three hours a day.
• go to office hours four times.
• create a study group.
• do the most important assignments first.
• sign up for tutoring/visit writing center.

surround yourself with people that motivate you.

When you surround yourself with people that motivate you to achieve your goals and praise your accomplishments, you are getting positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement makes it more likely that you will continue that behavior. When you surround yourself with people who achieve their own goals, they model that behavior and inspire you to work towards your own. That inspiration becomes your motivation. 

Photo by Papaioannou Kostas.

cut out negative influences.

Avoid people and environments that facilitate negative thoughts and habits. If you're in an environment filled with distractions, find somewhere you can be productive. If you procrastinate when you're in your bedroom, move to the library or designated study room.
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It's easy to internalize negative feedback. When people tell you you can't fulfill your passions or tell you that you'll never be anything, you can start to believe it. It's a sure way of killing motivation. Don't be afraid to cut off those people when you need to. Prove them wrong. 

create healthy habits.

Create healthy daily habits that motivate you. Those habits can include waking up and going to bed at the same time every day, making your bed in the morning, drinking a certain amount of water, or organizing your space. Do whatever makes you feel productive and ready to take on the day. 

cbd.

The last tip I have on staying motivated is including some form of CBD in your daily life. You can choose a tincture, flower, concentrates, or edibles. CBD is beneficial in providing relief from anxiety, depression, and pain. CBD can also provide mental clarity and improve motivation and creativity.