Unstoppable: 4 Ways To Become More Motivated

If you’ve been an active, social person all your life, it can come as a real shock to find you’ve suddenly lost the incentive to do more than the daily necessities of life. Don’t beat yourself up about it, there are so many reasons why it can happen, especially as we enter our retirement years. A bout of ill-health, a sense of isolation as family move away, the loss of a life partner, and even retirement, can all trigger a loss of mental and physical energy. Motivation, however, is an important part of healthy ageing, and if you’ve lost yours, it’s vital you win it back. Fortunately, there are many enticing ways to get off the couch and become more motivated than ever! Here are just a few to tempt you:

1.     Revisit early enthusiasms

Think back to the interests and hobbies that excited you in your youth. Perhaps you attended piano lessons, trained with a swim squad, or played rugby. Reignite your early enthusiasms, but in ways more suited to your current abilities or finances. You may not have a piano, for instance, but you can pick up a keyboard for next to nothing from Trade Me. An aerobics class for seniors will get you back in the water, and local rugby clubs are always on the lookout for coaches for kids’ teams. Build on what you already know, and experience the enjoyment all over again.

2.     Become a collector

‘Collectors’ have sometimes been viewed as eccentrics, but current thought is collecting is actually good for our mental well-being, and can motivate us in many ways. Tracking down items to add to a collection brings with it a sense of joy and satisfaction. Learning more about the items we enjoy collecting stimulates our brain, and mixing with others who share the same interest provides valuable opportunities to socialise. Even more importantly, collecting provides a focus when we go out and about. It can even encourage us to visit places we wouldn’t have otherwise, and can stimulate an interest in travel as we seek new finds. In many ways, it doesn’t matter what you collect, as long as you start, and make the effort to continue.

3.     Goals and challenges

Whether we realise it or not, as healthy individuals, we’re forever setting goals for ourselves. From tiny goals, like deciding to prepare breakfast, to larger goals such as going out for some exercise or visiting a friend, we meet dozens of challenges each day. When we do, it gives us a boost and encourages us to make and meet the next goal. A loss of motivation creates a similar cycle – but a negative one. The less we do, the worse we feel about ourselves, and the less likely we are to think we can succeed in any challenge. Making a list of daily goals, and sticking to it, can help us see where we’re succeeding, and encourage us to be more motivated. When making a goals list, keep it short and achievable (at least for a start). Include a range of goals that include both necessary tasks and leisure activities. Your list might read something like this: read a chapter of a book (or a magazine article), defrost the fridge, phone a friend, cook a meal that includes at least two fresh vegetables. Be sure to tick your achievements off the list as you complete them.

4.     Call in the professionals

Kiwis are renowned for their DIY abilities, so when it comes to personal matters, seeking the help of professionals can sometimes feel defeatist. But professionals exist for a reason – they know their stuff – and they can be the very people to kick start the motivation you’ve lost. A personal trainer knows how to tailor exercise to your very own needs, and how to keep you on track. When it comes to refreshing your wardrobe and sense of self, a personal stylist is so experienced, just one appointment with them may be all you need. If you want a complete life makeover, contact a life coach. It can seem scary to take the first step in contacting a professional – but checking them out with a friend can help.

Whatever you do to reignite your motivation, be kind to yourself. Lack of motivation as you age is a common problem. You are not alone, and if you think overcoming the situation is beyond you, see your GP for advice.