29/03/2024, 18:01 3 Simple Ways to Stay Motivated — OMAR ITANI

OMAR ITANI

June 16, 2020 · Creative Success

3 Simple Ways to Stay Motivated

6 minute read

It’s hard to stay motivated all the time.

Sometimes your energy is low and you’re not in the mood to take action. Other
times, events don’t go your way and you feel like you’re in a slump. Whatever
the case may be, there’s always a way to snap out of it and get back into your
groove.

There are usually three areas that nourish your motivation: your understanding
of what you want to accomplish and why it matters to you, the awareness of
your progress and its impact on others, and the mood you’re in.

I call it the ATM Model of Motivation.

And this model is built on what psychologists refer to as intrinsic motivation:

Intrinsic motivation refers to behavior that is driven by internal rewards.

In other words, the motivation to engage in a behavior arises from within
the individual because it is naturally satisfying to you. (Source).

In essence, intrinsic motivation is about performing an activity for its own sake
rather than the desire for an external reward. It’s what Steven Pressfield
explains in his book, The War of Art:

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29/03/2024, 18:01 3 Simple Ways to Stay Motivated — OMAR ITANI

“We must do our work for its own sake, not for fortune or attention or
applause.”
OMAR ITANI

Intrinsic motivation is a much more powerful force than extrinsic motivation—

especially when it comes to living a meaningful, authentic, and purposeful life
that is rooted in doing things that bring us genuine joy and fulfillment.

But while we can be intrinsically motivated toward a certain action, sometimes

it’s hard to maintain that motivation for a consistent and prolonged period of
time. Our motivation to act ebbs and flows like the tide. When you find it
receding, turn to the ATM Model to pull it back in.

1. Align With Your What and Why

Earlier this morning, I couldn’t get myself to write. I just sat on my chair and
stared at the blank screen. I honestly had no idea what topic to write about or
what I wanted to say. There were just too many ideas on my mind, and I felt a
little overwhelmed and quite demotivated.

So I got up and went for a walk.

Twenty minutes later, I was back on my chair spilling words onto this page—I
had found the clarity I was searching for.

If you’re struggling with motivation the first place to start is to ask yourself
these two questions:

1. Am I clear on what it is I want to do?

2. Am I clear on why it matters to me?

When we don’t have clarity on what it is we want to achieve—whether it be

related to a small task, a big project, or life in general—we struggle. It’s just
human nature. Our brain was designed to keep us safe, so we don’t do well with
uncertainty and ambiguity.

When you lack clarity on what needs to be done (in the case of writing, what it
is you wish to write about), you’re prone to procrastinate and feel less
motivated.

And while sometimes you might be clear on what it is that needs to be done,
you might not be clear on why this task matters to you in the grand scheme of
things. And if you aren’t able to connect the action with an intrinsic source of
motivation as to why it matters to you—an identity, a self-belief, a purpose—
you’re likely to struggle with motivation.

“If we want to feel an undying passion for our work, if we want to feel we
are contributing to something bigger than ourselves, we all need to know
our WHY.” — Simon Sinek

So take the time to re-connect and align with what you are working toward and
why it matters to you. Find clarity and conviction. Always fall back on them—
they are the springs that will push you back on your feet and re-ignite the fire to
take action.

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29/03/2024, 18:01 3 Simple Ways to Stay Motivated — OMAR ITANI

2. Track Your Progress

O M Aand
R IImpact
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There is nothing more rewarding—or motivating—than to look at the work
you’ve already done and the positive impact it’s had on you and others.

And the only way to validate this growth is by tracking it.

Are you lacking the motivation to write another piece? Open your progress
dashboard and look at how many articles you’ve published so far—you’ve done
so well, now keep going.

Are you lacking the motivation to launch your new creative project? Open your
progress dashboard and look at how many milestones you’ve completed along
the journey of building it—you’ve come a long way, now keep going.

The continuous tracking of inputs, outputs, and milestones is a major pillar

upon which GAP Goals are designed. But there’s another aspect to it: your
work’s impact on others.

We live in a world of human connection.

Anytime I receive a thank you note or comment from a reader, I save it. I add it
to a folder of happiness: Moments in my life that make me smile.

In a way, this is progress—the ability to help others through the work I do, the
privilege of creating, and the reward of having another human evaluate it.

Create your own folder.

Measure your own impact.

It helps rekindle the spark of why you do what you do. It reminds you that your
work matters. It motivates you to keep taking action.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what
difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the
significance of the life we lead.” — Nelson Mandela

No matter what it is you’re working on, building, or creating, what you put out
into the world will be touched by others. That’s a fact of life. Whether it be from
colleagues, or friends, or customers, or clients, the positive impact we have on
others, in and of itself, is a measure of growth and progress—and that, in and of
itself, can become a continuous source of motivation.

3. Manage Your Mood

If you’re in a bad mood, there isn’t an ocean in the world that can fill you with
the motivation you need to take action. So if you find yourself stuck in a
negative thought pattern and emotional state, move. Get up and go for a walk
around the block. Go to the gym. Get some fresh air. Step away from the task
for a little while. Movement invites new stimuli, which draws your attention
away from the thoughts that have led you to your emotional state.

Studies have shown that even a single bout of exercise results in positive
changes in brain chemicals and can instantly improve your mood.
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29/03/2024, 18:01 3 Simple Ways to Stay Motivated — OMAR ITANI

All it took for me to refuel the motivation to write this article were two things:
OMAR ITANI
clarity and sunshine. And it was only after I took a twenty-minute walk outside
that I was able to find them.

Manage your mood—it helps you manage your motivation.

What Matters to You

Align with your what and why, track your progress and your impact, and
manage your mood. These are the three simple strategies that can help you
refuel and stay motivated at times when your motivation is lacking a little.

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