Everybody knows me as the person who is always working. Whether I’m out at my day job, or doing one of my side hustles, I’ve always got a full to-do list and a handful of things that I should be doing. I’ve become an expert on tricking my brain into liking productivity. From tiny tasks to massive rewards, here are five ways you can keep yourself motivated.

Be clear about what you need to do

When I set myself goals, I have to make it explicitly clear to myself what I expect to be able to achieve. Writing down ‘sort out the bathroom’ on a list is too big and vague of a task, so I’m more likely to get overwhelmed and fail – whereas if I make a list of the smaller, specific targets I need to meet, they are going to feel much more attainable and easier to manage.

Make sure you work ‘down time’ into your schedule

It might sound a little counter productive, but I feel like knowing that you’re going to be able to relax and enjoy yourself again makes the impending doom of a huge project a little easier to cope with. My son and I are obsessed with Steven Universe Lets Bubble It right now, which is a bubble shooter game, so when I’m building a daily schedule, I will allot time that I can enjoy some mindless fun and give my brain a little bit of time off.

Apply the ‘little and often’ rule

I am a big believer in setting mini goals, so that you have more reasons to celebrate when you’re working. Instead of sitting down and working for an hour, I would much rather work for 10 lots of six minutes, so that I feel like I have achieved six times as much in the same amount of time. Many people say that your brain cannot focus fully on anything for more than 20 minutes, so that is the maximum amount of time I’d recommend working on something before allowing your mind to wander a little bit. This is super important to avoid burnout.

Reward yourself

When you’re trying to stay motivated, having a reward or end game in mind is really important to me. Even if the reward is just that I get to rest, setting myself a clear achievement that I need to reach before I am rewarded gives me a sense of focus, so that I keep my eyes on the (literal!) prize. This can be really helpful when you’re dealing with overwhelm, as you remind yourself that your task is not endless and you train yourself to keep your tasks manageable and attainable. 

Have a body double

If you haven’t heard of body doubling, this could sound a little strange. It’s nothing like having a stunt double, or getting anybody to stand in your place. In its essence, having a body double means having somebody who is working alongside you – whether that’s in person, or virtually. That way you can keep each other motivated, celebrate wins together, and enjoy knowing that you’re not alone in trying to stay on task. 

Are you good at keeping yourself motivated? Share your tips in the comments!