More often than not, we feel overwhelmed. We feel defeated. We feel dejected. And have no clue how to stay motivated.

Could be work or business stress.

Could be a drastic change in weather.

Family or relationship issues.

Or even just the effort of surviving today only to repeat the routine tomorrow.

Other times, we have no idea why! But it feels like motivation has been swept right from under us.

Personally, I usually have a busy schedule. So it is very important to me that I have a planner in order to keep track of my weekly commitments well in advance. But knowing what’s to come does not necessarily make it easy to handle!

I‘m only human…

So despite my usual drive, sometimes I just want to procrastinate. I get exhausted, I forget or I simply say ‘Fuck it!’. Maintaining the same level of drive is not easy, especially when you have an ambition that’s bigger than just you.

And on the way to achieving my goals, I have come across several mental and emotional challenges that make me want to take an easy way out or just give up!

As I journey through life, I realise that having these challenges does not make me special. Because we all face personal challenges everyday in order to achieve better things, or to simply become better versions of ourselves.

This similarity in each and every one of us is the reason why compassion and empathy can go a long way in helping us acknowledge and appreciate the struggles of the person sitting right next to us. But to me, what matters even more than external compassion is our individual mindset and approach to facing such challenges.

In my 30 years of playing the game of Adulting, I have realised the hard way that a work-life balance is extremely essential to personal happiness and overall motivation. And a switch in mindset can make all the difference there is.

This may sound cliché (I know), but it is very important to me that my life outside of work is good, as this allows me to approach my work objectively and not subjectively.

Hmmm. Sounds interesting…(I think🤔).

Well, 6 years working in a restaurant kitchen will teach you some things :). That aside, I make sure to have a schedule that allows me to also spend time with my friends, my hobbies and most especially – myself. I have also learnt the importance of setting clear boundaries with my friends and close ones.

This was something I found quite hard to do at first, as I thought it was selfish and rude to the people I cared about. But once I learned to put myself in the other person’s shoes first, and then communicate my intentions clearly, I realised that the feedback and outcome for both parties were almost always positive.

…

Shit. What the hell am I doing? 🙆

I brought you here to tell you exactly what I do to stay focused. And here I am going on and on about irrelevant stuff. So here you go, 5 things I do to remain inspired and focused.

1. Surround yourself with people that respect your vision.

Or people that are better than you at something – no matter how little! Understand that such people just won’t come to you. You need to be proactive and find them.

Use social media, or join online groups in your area that consist of people with similar interests. Host events, or attend events hosted by such groups.

But remember, also sit down with yourself, reflect and be introspective. The reason for this is so that you can find a skill or quality in you that can benefit the lives of others just as much as they benefit yours. Equivalent exchange, man. FMA.

2. Have at least 1 hobby.

Find something you enjoy doing that takes some skill. And do it regularly. If you’re not sure what your hobby is exactly, simply look for an activity you know you will keep doing even if you didn’t get paid.

Try out different things for the sake of trying, until you find the one that feels almost natural to you. It all depends on you. No tricks here. Me, I enjoy learning languages, writing, cooking, playing video games and volleyball. (Shoutout to you Maja).

3. Travel and Recharge.

Sometimes, all you need to inspire yourself is to change your environment for a short while. When I’m stressed, I find that an impromptu day away from town helps me a lot to stay focused. I just get up and leave. SOLO.

If you can afford it, leave the country for a few days. If you’re somewhere cold, go somewhere warm for a few days and vice versa.

A change of scenery usually brings out my sense of adventure, while allowing me to relax, find new purpose and recharge at the same time.

4. Make Love /Spread Love.

Sex is incredible for motivation. If you have a partner in crime or a special love interest in your life, clear your schedule for a whole day and date them – make sure to remain present throughout. No social media and no external distractions.

Walk, cuddle, talk, slow dance, make dinner together. My point is, focus on the journey, and not the destination. The outcome will speak for itself.

5. Work Out.

Again, this is all about mindset and perspective. Work out because you love your body, not because you hate it. Work out because you believe YOU deserve to see your body at its peak version, not because you need approval from someone else.

Work out because your only competition is You Today VS You Yesterday – not the Hercules next to you bench-pressing 300lbs or the Aphrodite with a squat regimen that would make even the gods jealous.

Start Easy.

Do any physical activity consistently for 8 weeks straight – 3 times a week for 30 minutes each. The key word here is

CONSISTENCY, because no one is going to achieve your goals for you. Personally, I started to feel results after this period. It may be different for you, but believe me when I say seeing your hard work pay off does incredible things for your motivation, confidence and focus.

Conclusion.

I could add a few more items to this list, but I figured this is more than enough for now. Putting too much might just bore you as a reader, and I don’t want that :). But in a nutshell, these are just some of the things I do on a regular basis to remain inspired.

Can you relate to any of the above? Or do you have any other pointers you may want to share? If so, kindly share these with me in the comments.

But regardless of it all, let us remember to count our blessings and always be grateful. Because at the end of it all, there is always someone out there who wishes they had what we have.

Thank you x