I used to think motivation was something you either had… or didn’t.
Like good hair days.
Some people just wake up ready to conquer the world, drink green smoothies, journal, run 5 miles, and somehow still have energy left to be nice to people. Meanwhile, I once stared at my laptop for 47 minutes… just opening and closing tabs like it was a competitive sport.
You ever do that?
Open Instagram. Close it. Open email. Close it. Suddenly you’re watching a video about a raccoon stealing donuts.
Yeah. That was me. Still kinda is, sometimes.
Anyway—point is—I spent way too long waiting to feel motivated before doing anything meaningful. Turns out… that’s not how it works. (Rude, honestly.)
The Weird Truth No One Tells You About Motivation
Motivation isn’t the starting line.
It’s more like… a side effect. A weird little bonus that shows up after you’ve already started doing the thing you didn’t feel like doing.
I know. Annoying.
It’s like going to the gym. The hardest part isn’t the workout—it’s putting on your shoes and convincing yourself you’re not going to die on the treadmill.
Once you’re there? You’re fine. Sometimes even smug about it.
“Yeah, I work out now.” (Meanwhile, you barely survived 12 minutes of walking. But still.)
?? Motivation Tip #1: Start Stupidly Small (Like… Almost Embarrassing Small)
I once told myself I’d write for just 2 minutes.
Two. Minutes.
Not an hour. Not a masterpiece. Just… two minutes.
And you know what happened?
I wrote for 45.
Because starting is the real boss battle. Everything after that is just side quests.
So if you’re stuck, try this:
- Want to work out? Do 5 pushups.
- Want to read? One page.
- Want to fix your life? Okay maybe don’t start there—start with making your bed.
Tiny actions trick your brain into thinking, “Oh… we’re doing this now?”
And suddenly, momentum kicks in like that one friend who shows up late but brings snacks.
?? Motivation Tip #2: Stop Waiting to Feel Ready (You Won’t)
I hate to break it to you, but you’re probably never going to feel 100% ready.
Not for that new job.
Not even for sending that slightly risky text.
There’s always going to be some voice in your head going,
“Hmm… maybe tomorrow? Or next week? Or… never?”
I had this idea once—something I knew could work. Sat on it for months. Kept “preparing.”
At some point, preparation just becomes procrastination wearing glasses.
So I finally just… did it.
Was it perfect? Nope.
Was it messy? Oh absolutely.
Did it work? Kinda. Enough to keep going.
And that’s the thing—progress beats perfection every single time.
?? Motivation Tip #3: Romanticize Your Life (Yes, Really)
This one sounds a bit dramatic, but hear me out.
Pretend your life is a movie.
Not a blockbuster. More like an indie film where the main character drinks too much coffee, overthinks everything, but slowly gets their life together.
Now ask yourself:
“What would that version of me do right now?”
Probably not scroll endlessly while lying in a weird position that’s definitely bad for your spine.
Maybe they’d:
- Sit by a window and write
- Go for a walk with music playing
- Actually start the thing they’ve been avoiding
I started doing this on random Tuesdays and honestly? It works.
Plus, it makes boring stuff feel… kinda aesthetic.
?? Motivation Tip #4: Accept That You’ll Mess Up (A Lot)
Here’s something I wish someone told me earlier:
You’re going to fail. Repeatedly. Sometimes in really dumb ways.
Like sending an email with “Hi [Insert Name]” still in it.
Or working on something for weeks and realizing… no one cares.
It happens.
But failing doesn’t mean you’re off track—it means you’re on it.
Every awkward attempt, every half-finished project, every “what was I even thinking?” moment… it all counts.
Honestly, some of my best ideas came right after my worst ones.
It’s like my brain needed to clear out the junk first.
Motivation Tip #5: Build Systems, Not Just Hype
Motivation is unreliable.
Systems? Way better.
Instead of saying:
“I’m going to be super motivated and change my life!”
Try:
“I’m going to work on this for 20 minutes every day at 7 PM.”
That’s it.
No drama. No pressure. Just consistency.
I started doing this with writing. Some days I wrote garbage. Absolute nonsense. But I showed up anyway.
And weirdly… showing up matters more than being brilliant.
(Which is good news, because I am definitely not brilliant before coffee.)
A Quick Side Tangent (Because My Brain Does That)
I once tried waking up at 5 AM for a week.
You know, like those ultra-productive people on the internet.
Day 1: Felt powerful. Invincible.
Day 2: Slightly confused but optimistic.
Day 3: Questioning my entire existence.
Moral of the story?
Not every “success habit” is your habit.
Find what works for you—not what looks good on someone else’s routine.
?? Motivation Tip #6: Change Your Environment (It’s Sneakier Than You Think)
Your environment matters way more than you think.
If your phone is right next to you… you’re going to use it.
If your workspace is chaotic… your brain kinda follows.
I’m not saying you need a Pinterest-perfect desk (because… who has time for that?), but small tweaks help:
- Keep distractions out of reach
- Have a designated “focus spot”
- Play music that makes you feel like the main character
Sometimes motivation isn’t about willpower—it’s about removing friction.
?? Motivation Tip #7: Talk to Yourself Like a Decent Human Being
This one hit me hard.
I used to say things to myself I would never say to a friend.
“You’re so lazy.”
“Why can’t you just get it together?”
“Everyone else is doing better than you.”
Like… wow. Harsh.
Imagine if your friend came to you feeling stuck and you responded with that energy. You’d lose friends real quick.
Try this instead:
“Okay, today was messy. But we’ll try again tomorrow.”
It feels small, but it changes everything.
A Couple Random Things That Helped Me (Might Help You Too)
- Making a “done list” instead of a to-do list (we love feeling accomplished)
- Taking breaks before burnout hits
- Drinking water like it’s a personality trait
- Celebrating tiny wins (yes, even sending that one email counts)
Outbound Links You Might Actually Enjoy
- Check out Wait But Why (super fun deep dives into motivation and procrastination)
- Or Mark Manson’s blog if you like blunt, slightly chaotic life advice
So… Can You Actually Unlock Your Full Potential?
Short answer?
Yeah. Probably.
But not in some overnight, movie-montage kind of way.
It’s slower. Messier. More human.
It looks like:
- Trying, failing, trying again
- Starting before you feel ready
- Doing small things consistently
- Laughing at yourself along the way
And some days… it looks like doing absolutely nothing and still deciding you’re not a failure.
Because you’re not.
You’re just figuring it out. Like the rest of us.
Final Thought (Kinda Important)
You don’t need to become a completely different person to unlock your potential.
You just need to show up… a little more often than you don’t.
Even if it’s messy. Even if it’s imperfect.
Actually—especially then.