Excitement and Motivation

When a new business or project is undertaken people are often excited and motivated to work.  They talk to everyone they know about it and are full of energy.  Then as the newness wears off and maybe things are not going according to plan that energy and motivation seem to taper off.

What do you do when that happens?  What keeps you on task when the mundane workings take over the energy and excitement you had when it was new?

Most of our lives are filled with the mundane daily tasks it takes to survive in this world, from our own homes and families to our work worlds.  Most of us do not lead the kind of lives where exciting and new things are always on the horizon and we can't wait to see what each new day will bring.  Most of us lead lives where most days are filled with the same tasks and projects as the day before.

I personally deal with this all the time.  New projects are fun and exciting.  I have massive amounts of energy and motivation to get things done, but when things become routine and are no longer new, my excitement and energy die off.

Most overnight sensations took years to see that success.  Those who succeed and have the kind of life they want to lead spend years doing the mundane tasks it takes to reach their goals.

So how do we make the mundane fun and exciting again?

Many coaches train people to go back to their why and rely on that to keep the motivation going.  That may bring motivation, but it doesn't always bring excitement.  Putting things down on a to do list may help to motivate us and we can feel really good when we mark tasks off, but it still doesn't bring the excitement back.  You can make a game out of the mundane and then things can seem like they are going faster.

Overall I think the main way to find energy and motivation in the mundane is to change your perspective.  If you look at the daily tasks as just grunt work then that is all the mundane will ever be.  If you go at it with a different attitude as if each task you complete is one step closer to your goal, or learn new ways to do old tasks that can certainly help with the motivation and energy.

Find joy in the everyday.  Look for the possibilities in everything you do.  Say I get to instead of I have to.  Changing your words may not change your attitude at first but eventually you will begin to believe that you get to instead of you have to.  Look at what you have instead of what you have not and show gratitude for those blessings.

Eventually changing just a few things will get that attitude to change and you will find the energy and excitement in life you once had.