Today’s topic is motivation. Whether it’s to finish painting your bedroom or to lose a few pounds, kicking your own butt is often the hardest thing to do. As I look at my “To Do” list today, I feel majorly overwhelmed because I have so much to accomplish between now and August 7th. Eek! Though with every task I cross off comes this awesome feeling of accomplishment that can often make my entire day and directly influences my mood. When I hop into bed at night, I often review what I accomplished (or didn’t) and I notice how much better I sleep when my day was productive.
Ah, motivation. Easy to say and hard to do! Whether you work for the man, or for yourself, it can be a challenge to press forward at times. Working for myself and having a measure of success in the freelance world takes a great deal more motivation than I ever imagined. When I went into work back in the day, seeing others around me in the office motivated me whether I interacted with them or not. Taking the T each day to Boston’s Financial District energized me, I felt motivated being packed on a train with a million others knowing we all were heading towards the same goal: to get to our jobs on time and hopefully make a difference. Hearing phone conversations over cube walls, walking by a jam-packed conference room, meeting colleagues for lunch, daily meetings with my boss — all of these things kept me fueled.
Working mostly from home, my challenge is that motivation must continuously come from within, along with creative ideas and solutions to any challenges that may arise during the day. In my past life, I could run across the hall to my colleagues desk to ‘tap’ her brain. Sometimes I just don’t have the energy to drive myself forward. Fuel can run low, especially on days when the tasks at hand aren’t necessarily ones I enjoy doing (billing, taxes, coding, etc.).
How do I motivate myself? I often email someone that I know will reply that day and simply ask them how they are. I’ll arrange a call with a client or friend. Sometimes I’ll run to a local cafe for an iced chai just to get out of my environment for 15 minutes and socialize with the cashier (who knows me). Sometimes I take an afternoon time out to play this nutty game called Diner Dash for a 10-15 minutes. I make it a daily practice to shut down my computer and take a full 30-60 minutes off each day where I am completely unavailable to the world. During this time I read, enjoy lunch at my kitchen table (not at my desk!), stretch, play music, and if it’s cold or rainy, I’ll even light a few candles. Changing the environment for a short period of time helps. You know, KEEP CALM and then CARRY ON. :)
What about you, how do you motivate yourself?
(image from leanne)
July 17th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
First off – I love Diner Dash!
Great post – it is hard to motivate oneself when working from home. I like your suggestion of scheduling a phone call, etc.
Lately I’ve been making sure I actually take a break from lunch, and telling myself it’s ok to wrap up at 5pm when I started at 8am. I don’t work on the laundry or the dishes during the workday, I schedule those for the evening. Having it feel more like a “real job” makes it easier to get things done, I think.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I read (and have re-read several times) this incredible book that REALLY helped me in the motivation department. It was bought for me, in turn I bought it for a few people, and those people have bought it for other people. It’s called “The War of Art” by Stephen Pressfield…I highly recommend it!
July 17th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
kudos.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Deadlines are motivating. I need to set goals. ALso my blog is motivating. It keeps me moving. When I know I’ve got a post to make or I know when I’ve made a statement that commits me to something me to something – that motivates me. I am motivated by time – free time. I work full time from home and an office and I set goals for my free time since it is so precious. I know I HAVE to do things in the evenings or I would never move forward. Saying “yes” to things that I don’t always want to do also stretches me and motivates me out of obligation. But sometimes it is just hard to do anything. Everyone gets motivation blocks I think. No matter what.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I have a “real job” in an office, and boy do I need motivation! For motivation I read blogs, listen to inspirational music, send emails to friends and call my mom for our daily chat. I also sketch at my desk and read a good book or take a walk during my lunch hour. Anything to keep myself going!
July 17th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I go for a walk by the lake and breath very deeply or take a stroll down Church st. (Burlington VT where I live)to get a cup of cappuccino and see whats new in the shops.
Talking to my sister always helps,we talk about everything and she makes me laugh.
And reading a few of my favorite blogs for inspiration!
July 17th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I actually decided recently to start a blog to motivate myself to craft. Its still in the beginning stages, but I already find myself wanting to test out new patterns, dig up awesome fabrics, finish projects that have been in my “to do” pile for ages… so that I can share them with the people who read my blog.
The motivation partially comes because I know people are checking daily and I feel like having promised them updates, I owe them something good each day.
The connections to others like me is also really helping.
We’ll see how it works out in the long run! :)
July 17th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
For me the key to staying motivated is having deadlines to meet. Whether its painting 12 new pieces for a solo show, or a delivery date for new work to a gallery. If I know that something has to be finished by a certain date I’m highly motivated.
I also like to take one day a week (sometimes it’s only 1/2 a day every 2 weeks)as a creative day. That’s my time to soak up inspiration. Gallery hopping, window shopping, people watching at a cafe. Those are my perks.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I woke up today thinking in how I can organize myself better!. Working at home is not easy, and I think I spent way too much time taking care of the house and trying to work at the same time. Now I?m learning to take some time ?free?: go out to walk around, have a real lunch in the kitchen, practice some stretching yoga to keep my sanity
One great thing I?m doing is write down every single thing I do every day (for my work and my art) and at the end of the day I can see I REALLY did a lot of things.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Above my desk at work, I have a craigslist real estate posting that my husband sent to me. It’s our dream house/property in Hawaii – $1.66 million! I’m originally from Hawaii and it’s our goal to move back there. Seeing the beautiful pictures (and the price tag) motivate me to keep working hard so I can make the money to put us in a financial position to make that leap.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Small incentives! At work, I have to get finish the mundane tasks before I can do the fun stuff, like look through newsletters & trade publications. After work, I have to finish my workout before I get a delicious smoothie & a soak in the tub.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Working from home gives me so many priviledges, but also usually makes everyone at home think that I am available all the time. But inspiration motivates me – great design and great interiors, and sometimes music have the power to suddenly make me wish to create or publish my finds on my blogs or in my monthly column. I still have succeeded to schedule enough time for myself.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I motivate myself by getting to work early. Though I could start at 8am I am at my desk by 5:30am. That way I am home by 3:30pm and have a lot of the day still left. In summary work first, play later.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Deadlines! I agree. And since I don’t really have them in my personal life, I create them.
To get things done at home this usually happens by the way of a good party! It motivates me to finally get that room repainted, or hang stuff on the walls, or weed the garden (you get the idea).
As for all of the crafty projects I daydream about… still haven’t figured that deadline out.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I have to agree with Nanette Merrill and daughters, setting deadlines is key for establishing motivation. However, making the deadlines public, whether it be to colleagues, family or friends is helpful as well because it can create more of a sense of urgency.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
hey thanks for the shout out, holly!
and i could use some of these tips today!! :)
July 18th, 2008 at 3:04 am
sometimes I just need to get out of the studio, take a walk and go to a bookstore and such to get motivated. I actually come up with my best ideas for designs when I am just about to fall asleep, then I get up and jot them down. Maybe its because I am more relaxed then
July 18th, 2008 at 11:25 am
this is a very cute and wonderful idea to motivate our self
it is hard to motivate one self when working from home,
working at home is not easy right?but also usually makes
every one at home i think free all the time.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
look at nature..the woods. there is a park on the next block. it refreshes my mind and my eyes.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I rely heavily on friends for motivation. If I’m looking for motivation on a sewing project, I’ll try to find a friend who has a few projects of their own and have an all-out craft fest. The buddy system is a good way to separate the things that are sticking in your way and what your end goal really is. I’m truly impressed with people who can be their own self motivator and sort of wish I had those same qualities BUT buddy-system works for me!
July 18th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I wasn’t sure where to place this comment, and you may surely delete it if you like, but I really missed the Etsy Take 5 Tuesday this week!! It is one of my favorite things and it seems to be here one week and gone the next! I would so love it if you could bring it back, even if it’s on Thursday or Friday…better late than never! It’s something myself and other friends truly love checking out every week.
As a fellow New Hampshire-ite and lover of fashion and design, I think your blog is wonderful and it’s the first one I check every day. Your aesthetic is so in sync with mine and keep up the good work!
July 18th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
had to do this self-motivation thing just yesterday…disgusted with my bum knee, I had a good fit-throwing-cry during my shower in the a.m. (which felt really good), taught my little kido art class, and then packed up the fam and went to the pool to work out my knee. At then end of the day, I was so glad I had had a good swim, and my knee felt so much better that I went on a walk with the hubby after dinner. :o) Feelin’ much better now.
July 18th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Nothing motivates me more than a 20-ounce coffee from my favorite coffee shop. When I bring that home and into my craft room I can accomplish anything! The smell sparks a part of my brain the lets the creativity loose. Sipping my coffee in between cutting paper parts for collage is enough to get a lot accomplished during the day. I think I could start a great coffee/DIY campaign: Create with Caffeine!
July 18th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I’m an independent, freelancing graphic designer…and a mom. There are SO many things people say you “can’t do” when you’re a mom. “You’ll see how hard it is an you’ll just have to give [fill in the blank] up.” What motivates me it to dedicate myself specifically to a goal that people say is impossible (or just not worth the effort) and DO IT. Watching myself do something that people say I can’t do, what could possibly be more motivating than that?
July 18th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Sometimes just stepping outside and getting some fresh air helps. Hear the birds sing, hear the children in the yard next door….
Decor 8 is the other motivation for me. Sometimes when I’m feeling uninspired or bored, I pop on here to see whats new in the world of design and color. Every post gets better and better.
Deb ;)
July 19th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Money.
July 19th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Blogs! There are so many literary and visual feasts out there. As a writer, I’m also motivated by great writing, in a book, magazine, blog, newspaper, etc. It pushes me to try harder at writing and re-writing my own material. I dissect how other writers conveyed a certain feeling, described a scene, etc. Coffee chats with colleagues. Taking a walk since being outdoors by myself somehow always seems to help me focus and adds clarity to my thoughts. And yeah, definitely coffee to perk me up!
July 19th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I am comforted by the fact that I’m not the only one that has a hard time just moving forward sometimes! I just realized recently that it is very important to set deadlines and announce them on my blog so I can’t back out of them. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this post for more tips!
July 21st, 2008 at 4:41 pm
At work, I find that getting started is the hardest part. Since I enjoy what I do, it’s easy to keep going once I get started.
When I want to create art at home, I just sit down at my work table and start going through materials. I let the patterns and colors motivate me.
Melanie
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I don’t know if motivation is the problem, as much as energy depletion. I find my energy gets sucked if I try to accomplish too much, and rush through projects. So with my long list, I prioritize what is most important to accomplish in the day, and focus only on that, not thinking about what else I have to do. Staying in the present moment makes whatever I am doing much more enjoyable, and then I have the satisfaction of putting my entire attention on the task at hand. This is actually energizing.
Also, creative ideas need time to surface. A graphic design teacher I had once said that a project takes 90% brain time, and 10% effort. Relaxing and diversion like you described is the only way to get the creative juices flowing. I need a little of this time every day.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Ive found that recently I have been saving a lot of images to my computer. As a graphic design student, I find that i need to be artistically inspired to be motivated. Usually sketchbook images or process work is what does it for me. I guess that seeing the process shows that everything is developed, and nothing is instantly genius or beautiful…
I also need breaks and visits to friends. seeing their take and progress on the same project sometimes gives me that little competitive shock to stop being lazy and get to work!
:D