Learning self-motivation:

There are those people who set their alarm clocks to go for a run before work. Who go through every fasting resolution, no matter how hard, as if it were child's play. And who get everything done days before the deadline for professional projects. Self-motivation is the magic word here. But many others find it difficult to break bad habits, establish meaningful routines and bring about positive change. There's that inner bastard that makes the goals you're striving for seem further and further away. There are commitments and deadlines that prevent you from being more productive and successful. And there are conventions or entrenched ways of thinking that cause some people to rush after their dreams instead of realizing them. So the question is: how can you motivate yourself?

If you are looking for this inner driving force, you should first take a closer look at the term "motivation". Because motivation is not just motivation. Rather, there is both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. In extrinsic motivation, an external motivator plays the main role. This means that we motivate ourselves by working towards a reward. In our professional lives, this could be a pay rise or a bonus, in our private lives a piece of chocolate, a shopping trip or a vacation. However, it is even better if you see the activity itself as a source of happiness. This is known as intrinsic motivation - the strongest form of motivation of all. This means that whether it's sport, a healthier diet or a new morning routine, it's important to be fully in the here and now and not just focus on the "afterwards". This is far more effective, as motivators that are only driven by the prospect of a reward rarely help us to stick with it. Instead, frustration sets in and we feel controlled by others. The very essence we need to keep our eyes on a goal in the long term is missing. And this is called self-motivation. The following tips reveal how you can learn self-motivation.

Learning and increasing self-motivation: 5 tips

First things first: the most important tool for more self-motivation is optimism. The crux of the matter: most people have a rather negative basic attitude. This means that their desired goals seem unattainable and everything that those around them do seems to be better than what they themselves are capable of doing anyway. Do you feel caught out? Then first find out exactly what the reasons for your own failure are and then try to avoid the associated behaviors. Rely on your own voice, don't compare yourself with others and do what is good for you - and not what others might have planned for you. Keep reminding yourself of what you have already achieved. And then you can move on to the other self-motivation tips:

1. Create perfect conditions: If you want to motivate yourself, you should first create the right conditions. And we're not just talking about an ergonomic and inspiring workplace in the office or the ideal sportswear, but also about our most important tool: our body. It is therefore essential to give it enough sleep, provide it with a healthy diet, give it enough exercise and also train it in mindfulness.

    

2. Get out of the routine: "If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine - it's lethal." - This is what the writer Paolo Coelho is said to have said. Or as Apple luminary Steve Jobs once put it: "Stay hungry, stay foolish". Basically, this all means one thing: if you want to change something and drive your own life forward, you have to break out of your routine. And it helps to start by analyzing your own daily routine and deadlocked routines in order to uncover potential for improvement. By the way: you don't have to throw everything overboard right away, even small changes are worth their weight in gold. Why not pick up a book again instead of the remote control, try a new breakfast or take a path you don't know yet on your next walk.

    

3. Set goals: Rough goals are good, concrete goals are better. Because only those who have a precise idea of what they want to change or what the situation should look like in six months' time will be able to motivate themselves sufficiently. However, be honest with yourself and remain realistic. Do you have big plans? Then divide your plan into milestones. Visual types develop a mood board for this and place it clearly visible in the home. Alternatively, keep a sports diary or use an app for documentation. This way, you always know where you stand. And if you ever stumble, it will show you how far you have already come. Are you all too easily distracted? Then try a digital detox: deliberately don't take your smartphone with you on your next mountain bike tour or leave it switched off for an entire morning. This will help you learn to focus on the essentials again.
    

4. Accept weaknesses: Getting to your destination quickly and unscathed - that's what everyone wants. But we are not machines. And that's why it's essential to accept failures and weaknesses. Some days, the body just doesn't want to do sport the way we would like it to. And on others, we are simply too tired for our new morning routine. That's okay - as long as you keep two things in mind: Breaks are important and right. Or as the American sports psychologist Guy Boucher put it: "Rest is weapon". But only if you can get back on track quickly afterwards. You should also use mistakes to learn from them. It often helps to analyze failures, derive to-do lists from them and thus be better prepared for the next low. Incidentally, meditation can help to increase your frustration tolerance. This is because the technique acts like a neuronal reboot.

    

5. Find allies: Even if you are primarily responsible for achieving your goals yourself, it can be helpful to let others in on your plans. Allies can either provide you with emotional support from a distance or even help you to implement your plans. In either case, they also serve as a control body that won't let you get away with any weaknesses, which increases your motivation. 

Inspiring and motivating backdrop

It can also be motivating and inspiring to break away not only from familiar paths, but also from familiar surroundings in order to literally rise like a phoenix from the ashes to something new, far away from the familiar. Here at the Seehotel Jägerwirt, this works perfectly. With us, you don't even have to decide whether you'd rather be infected by the freshness of the lake or the power of the mountains - we have both right on our doorstep. And we are also the perfect starting point for many adventures. You can either put together your own vacation program or take advantage of our weekly summer program - either way, variety is guaranteed.

There are those people who set their alarm clocks to go for a run before work. Who go through every fasting resolution, no matter how hard, as if it were child's play. And who get everything done days before the deadline for professional projects. Self-motivation is the magic word here. But many others find it difficult to break bad habits, establish meaningful routines and bring about positive change. There's that inner bastard that makes the goals you're striving for seem further and further away. There are commitments and deadlines that prevent you from being more productive and successful. And there are conventions or entrenched ways of thinking that cause some people to rush after their dreams instead of realizing them. So the question is: how can you motivate yourself?

Alexander Springenschmidt, Managing Director of Seehotel Jägerwirt, is an expert on the topic of flow throughout the DACH region. With his "High Flow Time Management" patent, he helps people to achieve twice as much in half the time without burning out. 

www.alexanderspringenschmidt.com