Animation: Making progress builds momentum
Making just a little progress increases your motivation to make more progress.
When researchers tried to figure out what made for ‘a good day’ at work, they discovered there’s one key element: making progress.
And when you make progress, it builds your momentum, creating a positive cycle where the next action is easier to take, and the next, and the next…
Here are four research-based tips to start building momentum:
Put yourself in an energized mood. What makes you powerful and positive? This could be exercise or movement, asking a friend for a pep talk, or doing something that brings you joy. Action is easier when we’re in this energized state.
Make the first action really achievable. Ask yourself: what can you do, in ten minutes or less, that would move you towards your goal?
Find a way to make the task fulfilling in and of itself. Is there a way that you could approach it using your unique gifts and strengths, in a way that makes it more enjoyable and fun?
Celebrate your progress. Noting down your wins, learnings, and experiences will help to document all that you’ve already done. This helps to sustain your motivation to keep going. Every day, write down the one thing you did that helped you to move towards your goal, or share it with a loved one who is cheering you on.
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