Writing can be a lonely profession at times, and one where you have to push yourself when no one else will.
Staying motivated, particularly when you’re faced with writer’s block, can be a challenge, but there are strategies that you can try that will help you to hone your self-motivation skills.
If you’re looking to learn how to motivate yourself, without relying on others to do it for you, then here are five steps to success.
1. Track Your Progress
Keeping track of your progress is a great way for you to maximise your productivity; you can check goals off of your to-do lists, see how much you have left to complete, and set deadlines to aim for.
While some still choose to use physical calendars and planners, there are now a wide variety of apps that you can use.
In fact, not only are apps such as Trello a great way to keep on top of your tasks, but you can also use it to storyboard your next project, setting out a visual plan of what you want to achieve.
2. Reward Your Achievements No Matter How Small
Introducing a system in which you can regularly reward yourself for your achievements, even the smallest ones, is a great way to help you stay motivated.
Consider allowing yourself a fancy coffee – or a chocolate from the posh box you don’t want to share with your significant other – every time you write a certain amount of words.
It doesn’t matter if you end up deleting these words when you edit, this positive reinforcement may help you come up with some fun wordplay or a beautiful sentence.
You won’t know until you start writing.
3. Actively Engage in other Self-Motivation Activities
Writing a novel isn’t the only project that requires self-motivation, and the more you practice self-motivation in your daily life, the better you will get at it.
Undertakings such as distance learning require both discipline and self-motivation, as you’ll oversee your own studies.
Educational providers such as Anglia Ruskin University will not only teach you valuable self-motivation skills, but will give you the chance to grow your knowledge in a wide variety of exciting fields.
4. Get Plenty of Sleep
The ability to focus is essential to staying motivated, and sleep is one of the best ways we can improve our concentration.
It can be hard to get enough sleep each night, especially when we’re stressed.
However, it’s important that we make the effort to stay rested. If you find sleep is starting to evade you, consider listening to a calming podcast in the evening, or finishing the night with a chamomile tea.
5. Make Time to Read
Inspiration can be hard to come by, but taking time to read each day is a great way to spark new ideas.
If you aren’t sure which book to pick up next, consider using a service like Goodreads to check out reviews.
You may even find a new favourite author.
How do you stay motivated while you write? Share your tips in the comments below!