Feeling Lazy? 9 Ways To Get Motivated & Get Moving In Any Situation

If you’ve ever blown off hanging out with friends because you were too lazy to shower, or decided to let the dishes pile up since you couldn’t get off the couch, you’ll be able to relate – staying motivated (or even getting motivated to begin with) is tough. Especially since there are so many glorious excuses we can give for not doing something. Still, it’s definitely important to not let our laziness get the best of us. If you’re looking for ways to pump up your motivation, here are a few tips that’ll help you achieve everything that you’ve probably already talked yourself out of. After all, why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?

  1. Start slow. You’re already setting yourself up to fail if your goal is to lose 15 pounds in a month. Instead, try for 2 pounds a week. The lower number will make you less discouraged, since losing a ton of weight is seriously hard work. You’ll also want to start slow with every new goal. If you want to see your friends more, saturating your schedule with fifteen hangouts isn’t the best way to do it. By choosing just one plan, you’re more likely to stick with it. as numerous fortune cookies have told me, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”.
  2. Get some support. If you want to quit smoking, it’ll be a lot easier if you have a group that’ll hold you accountable. Quitting is super tough, but it’ll be a little bit easier if you think of all of the people you’d be disappointing right before you light up. Even if you want to run a marathon, it’s a lot easier when you have friends on board that’ll be willing to help you train.
  3. Get pumped with some music. Music can help lighten up any task, whether it be working out or getting some housework done. It’ll also help make the time fly by, and (gasp!) actually might help make certain activities fun.
  4. Think of your end game. Whether it’s fresh laundry or the satisfaction that you’ll never again have to dish out six bucks for a pack of smokes, always focus on how good it’ll feel once your goal is completed. It’s definitely a boost of confidence to complete a self-project, and you’ll surely learn that doubting yourself was only holding you back.
  5. Write your goals out. Make them loud and proud! If you have a wipeoff board, make sure to litter it with what you want to accomplish. Visually seeing what you want to achieve will serve as a constant reminder that you’ve got some work to do. (If you don’t have a roommate or thin walls, consider yelling them out as well. Anything to get you pumped.)
  6. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. It seems harsh, but it’s true. Maybe you’re sitting alone on a Friday night on your couch because that’s where your priorities truly lie. Only you can make changes happen in your life, so use the time you’d spent complaining about the Freshman 15 and go to the gym instead. You’ll feel so much better about the situation.
  7.  Do some reading. Read up on the topic at hand, and it’ll pump you up even more. Want to eat healthier? Buy a book that’ll help you get you started on the right foot. With some thorough research, you’ll be less likely to fall back on old patterns. Buying a book will also make you financially invested in your goals. You spent fifteen bucks on the goal, so put it to good use!
  8. Create a start date. Mondays are usually a good bet. If your goal is to reach out to friends more often, consider sending a friend a text to ask them about their weekend, and let things go from there. If the goal is something like making sure you get out of bed on time, prepare to set your alarm Sunday night and start anticipating your new routine.
  9. Don’t give in to setbacks. Everyone will have a setback at some point — whether your cheat day turns into “cheat week”, or if you have to succumb to your bad vice after a stressful work day. Just because you had a backslide doesn’t mean you’re doomed to fail. Get back on the wagon the next
Karen Belz is a New Jersey native who is currently living in Maryland. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communication with a focus in Broadcasting and Print Media Studies from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Since graduating, she has written for sites like LittleThings, HelloGiggles, and Scary Mommy and is currently an e-commerce editor at Bustle.

When she's not writing, she enjoys making her phone run out of memory after taking too many photos of her dog. You can find her on Twitter @karenebelz or on Instagram @karenbelz.
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