Do you need to find motivation for work? Ever feel like you lack that energy to not want to do anything? There are ways you can overcome procrastination and start putting that energy to work.

I've been in your place before where I have an upcoming deadline coming up and all I want to do is stay in bed with a bunch of snacks and binge-watch Netflix. But life can't all be staying in bed and watching movies all day.

In this post, I'll share tips on how to motivate to work such as:

• going on inspirational sites
• making a vision board
• watching motivational videos

If you do, then you need to get your work motivation up! Here are some motivation tips for anyone who needs to study or work.

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How to get Motivation to Work

Go on Inspirational Sites

To get your work motivation juice flowing, try going on sites/apps that have beautiful images to get you feeling inspired BEFORE you get into the task. You can look up motivational quotes (I'm planning to create a post in the future filled with inspirational quotes). As of now, you can check out my Pinterest board filled with affirmations and helpful self-growth posts.

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If needed, print some out and stick them in front of your desk or around your room. Pretty much somewhere you can see it daily. For example, you can write your quote on a sticky note and stick it on your mirror.

You can also try making a photo display on your wall. Lookup dream jobs, hobbies, or goals through Pinterest or Google Images. You can also take photos of the past events that you enjoyed. That way, when you're looking at the quote you feel that motivation to start taking the workload.

Search suggestions: office, desk, study, motivational quotes, life quotes, goals, dreams, vintage, bright.

Make a Vision Board

What is a Vision Board? It’s a group of images, affirmation, photographs & images related to your goals or dreams. You can create vision boards using your own bullet board, journal, desktop wallpaper or a private board on Pinterest. I recommend making a physical bullet board or laptop wallpaper (if you use your desktop every day) so that you can see it every day just like your motivation quote.

You can make it however you like. It can be colourful, pretty, neat, minimalistic, etc. You can also be extra and add fairy lights around your board. As long as it doesn't distract you or make you feel stress, then you do you girl.

If you need inspiration & ideas, search ‘vision board’ on Pinterest, Google Images or Tumblr.

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Watch Videos

Once you see someone’s success, you feel the need to want to have the motivation to work (depending on the type of person you are).

Try watching videos by Be Inspired or Ted Talks if you need motivation or inspiration. These channels will help you bring your spirits high and learn experiences from successful entrepreneurs.

Another way is watching something that inspires you like Casey Neistat or vlogs that relate to your dream career (filmmaker, scientist, teacher, etc).  Imagine you trying to be in their spot.

I like to watch teacher vlogs since they are so informational and colourful. Even though I don't want to be a teacher, I still watch them anyway since they're so bright and positive.

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Exercise

Who says you have to stay inside and try to get yourself to do work? Exercising is important for your mind and body.

Based on the research between exercise and productivity, it helps increase your alertness and energy. It also improves your mental health by decreasing stress, anxiety and depression along with your physical health by decreasing future diseases and muscle issues.

Go for a 15-30 minutes walk or do some yoga.

Every time I come home from a walk, I always feel wide awake and motivated with the adrenaline still racing in my body. Get your muscles moving! It will surely wake you up. Plus, who wouldn’t want a fit body?

Read a Book

If your mind is dead sarcasm, wake it up by reading your favourite book. If you're more of a listener rather than a reader, I recommend listening to podcasts.

It will help you expand your knowledge & creativity. This includes reducing stress, improving memory, increasing vocabulary and writing skills, and even make you smart!

An app or site I use to read free books creative by anyone is Wattpad. But mostly, I read my books from Kindle.

Organise!

Having a messy work desk is a no-no! Did you know that if you have a messy study space, you feel more stress and gain anxiety?

Try to declutter your space once or twice a week using your spare time. It will make you feel like you really want to do something productive as well as put your attention on your work.

But hey! At less, you don’t need to waste your time looking for something you really need under those piles of paper and books.

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Light up Candles

I suggest getting your favourite scented one. The smell will make you feel relax and stress-free.

The light and illumination from the candle flame help your brain comprehend calmness and energy.

I currently have apple & vanilla and Fig & Papaya scented candles on atm.

Play Music

If you feel that silence can cause you to fall asleep, have no worries!

There are different sites and apps like YouTube and Spotify to help keep you awake. Listen to music that has different lyrics (like Kpop or Spanish music), lo-fi or instrumental/classical music.

I'm going to be honest, listening to music in your language or bopping music will make you distracted. So I recommend listening to music that you don't understand.

Search Suggestions: chill, study, café, jazz, bossa nova, relaxing, piano, BGM, jazz, instrumental, lo-fi hip-hop

Schedule a Planner or Timetable

Do you know how a person becomes successful? It’s by planning.

You get to see what is on schedule, when your project is due and what the time you have to spend on that project. You can create a habit out of it, consistently being productive and planning early. It is also helpful for you bloggers out there trying to post on a specific date for your audience.

The app I use for my timetable is Power Planner (update: I don't use this app anymore. I currently use Google Calendar for all my digital planning). This is a great app to keep track of what I need to do and when my school work is due, what day I need to post a blog or YouTube video.

You can also check out the Erin Condren physical planners. I wrote a review on the planner which you can check out here. It's a great way to have your own personalised planner which helps keep you productive and motivated.

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Set a To-Do List

Setting a To-Do List is great so you can see what you need to do today. I use apps like Trello & Wunderlist to organize a To-Do List. (Update 2020 - Wunderlist merged to Microsoft To-Do, which I currently use now).

I use Trello pretty much for ideas for blog, digital drawing, YouTube videos & school week tasks.

For Wunderlist, I keep a weekly scheduled To-Do List, goals and a grocery list.

Two of the apps can allow you to add other people if you’re doing the same projects or pretty much anything!

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Drink Coffee/Tea

I love drinking my two favourite beverages in the whole entire world. It helps me get my work motivation going.

In the morning, when the sun is out and you’re sitting in front of your desktop. Have a snack along with it if you feel the need to crunch something along with your favourite drinks (because it's bad to drink coffee alone).

Coffee (and some tea) have caffeine in it which helps you feel more alert and boost your energy. It triggers the "fatigue" in your brain the moment you take your first sip.

Take a nap

Feeling tired? Try taking a 15-30 minute nap and have an 8-10hr sleep schedule. The time you wake up, your brain will feel refreshed and ready to do some work!

I learned in my psychology class that people tend to feel sleepy at 2 PM.

I use the app SleepyTime so see whenever what time I should sleep and when I should wake up. Plus, once you pick that time, it sets an hour right into your alarm!

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Think about your goals

Try visualizing your goals. Ask yourself "why do you want to achieve that goal?" "What is the purpose?" If you want to be work motivated, you need to have that mindset. You need to be aware of what you’re doing is going to affect what you do in the future ahead.

Sometimes we may burn out or you feel exhausted. That's Ok! Try exploring something new that you might enjoy. Be that person out of all the unproductive people to be successful.

Every time you do your work, it will affect your future! So don’t give up!

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Reward Yourself

Don’t try so hard on yourself. Give yourself a little reward in the end after you finished the day of work. (BTW, not everything can be completed in one day).

Examples of ways to reward yourself are watching your favourite movie, eating fruits or chocolate, relax in bed, draw a picture. Just pretty much anything that you feel hopeful and excited for.

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Take breaks

Remember, don’t overwork! Overworking will get your more unmotivated to go on and will mentally drain you.

Try to take breaks from time to time. At least a 5-15 minute breaks every 25 mins -1 hr work.

Check this post out on why taking breaks from work is important.

Be Disciplined

Try and always discipline yourself. Put away things that distract you and stop procrastinating in order to be motivated to work.

If you want to get out of the habit of procrastinating and achieving, be responsible and take action in your own life. Think to yourself “I need to finish this. If I don’t, I won’t get to where I want to be”.

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“Just Do It”

Yes, sometimes you make excuses “oh I’ll do it tomorrow or later” which means you won’t. The moment you do it now, then you wouldn’t have to worry about being collapsed in a bunch of work.

The trick is, your brain tells you to not do it (which is where you get your anxiety from) but once you start doing it, your brain then gets the hang of it.

What now?

What are things that help you get motivated to work?

Try out the things I mentioned in the post and see which one helps you with work motivation.

If you love new posts about self-care, productivity, blogging tips, and other lifestyle posts, then don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter where you can get notified in your email inbox on Fridays (Aussie time). Follow my social media accounts if you haven't already!

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~ Ellen