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Ugh, it's that time of year again when we look at what we've accomplished and what we still have to do and for some of us, we kind of teeter out. Has this ever happened to you:
You're in the middle of a great project, or working on an exciting activity, and all of a sudden *BAM!* it hits you: your Mo-Jo is gone. You've lost all desire to go on? Your brain feels fried, you're no longer interested, creativity has ceased to flow. You're STUCK!
Or maybe it happens gradually, maybe your brain juices slowly fizzle away without you really noticing until you eventually lack all motivation to continue. You can't come up with any new ideas, you feel totally indifferent, you just want it to be over with. You're STUCK.
My small business clients sometimes run out of steam and lose their Mo-Jo while we're in the middle of working on a project. I've found that their loss of motivation usually comes from a feeling of overwhelm. It's quite understandable; for most small business owners, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the multiple hats we have to wear.
When my clients start suffering from Mo-Jo loss, I whip out my handy dandy checklist and have the culprit spend a few minutes going through the seven simple steps. Even if you're not a small business owner, you, too, can use this Seven Simple Steps To Getting Your Mo-Jo Back checklist anytime you're noticing a drop in your motivation.
Just run through the simple steps and within 30 minutes or so, you're almost guaranteed to be back on track and motivated toward completion.
1. I have a full understanding of my goal and the end result of this project. We often lose motivation when we don't understand the goal of a project or activity. Take a moment to remind yourself of the project's end result.
2. I am focusing on WHY I will get this done, rather than HOW I will get this done. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the "oh my gosh, how am I ever going to get all this done" blues. But a powerful WHY statement can help you overcome that. If you haven't yet done so, jot down your WHY.
3. I understand the opportunities and outcomes of completing this project. Along with a strong WHY, an equally strong Benefits Statement can help us get unstuck. What benefits or opportunities will come out of completing this project or activity?
4. I have outlined and reviewed all the steps necessary to complete this project. Now it's time to re-focus on the HOW of the project by listing all the action steps necessary.
5. I have practiced my relaxation breathing technique to rid myself of negative energy. Once the action steps are outlined, you might find yourself overwhelmed again. Try this simple relaxation technique:
* Sit up straight, close your eyes and plant both feet firmly on the ground.
* Take a deep breath in from your abdomen, imagining the air coming in through your feet.
* As the air comes in through your feet, imagine it traveling up your body and bringing all negative feelings and energy with it, up, up, up, all the way into your head.
* As you exhale through your mouth, expel all the negative energy out with your breath.
6. I have taken a ten-minute break from this project in order to regain my focus. Take advantage of your new relaxed state by spending the next ten minutes doing something you enjoy. Set the timer and go read the next chapter in your book, take a walk, have a cup of tea, call your best friend just to say hello.
7. I know what I would do next if I wasn't suffering from this lack of motivation. Close your eyes and imagine that you're not stuck and that your project is moving forward nicely. What exactly do you see yourself doing? Here's a hint: refer to the action steps you listed in #4. Now, go do it!
You can use this recipe anytime you're feeling stuck or you've lost your motivation.
Author Resource:- Karen Scharf offers several whitepapers, free reports and checklists, including her FREE downloadable checklist: 7 Simple Steps to Getting Your Mo-Jo Back. Download your copies at http://www.http://www.modernimage.com/mojo.htm.
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