Tricking Myself into Motivation

One of my secrets to staying motivated is that I trick myself every day. My morning routine, daily schedule, and night routine are full of tricks designed to keep me on track.

Here are some examples:

  • I bought the easiest and best espresso and foam maker for my home, which helps me stop spending hundreds of dollars on cafés. When I wake up, I look forward to my favorite coffee and the satisfaction of saving money. It motivates me to get out of bed.
  • I promised my partner that we would go for a bike ride together every day. I know that sometimes my promises to others hold more weight than those I make to myself. This trick of accountability ensures I get out for a ride, which I love, even if I need a push to follow through.
  • I set a low bar for my night routine, agreeing that just one minute of stretching counts. By not overwhelming myself with high expectations, I trick myself into getting started. Once I’m on the mat, that one minute often turns into several, bringing enjoyment and great benefits.

Although I’m going through tough times, I genuinely like my life. With practice, I’ve learned to see both the good and the bad, and they always coexist. I don’t ignore the pain that comes with life’s challenges, but I don’t let it stop me from pursuing what I want. If I don’t create structures in my day, others will do it for me. By actively programming my day with activities that support my mind and body, I stay strong and more able to be myself in a world that’s already pre-programmed.

ACTION: Identify a simple trick that you can use to motivate yourself today. Whether it’s promising yourself a small reward for completing a task, making a commitment to someone else to hold you accountable, or setting an easy goal to build momentum, choose one and put it into action.

POST

Giving with Practice

Most religions include service, charity, or acts of giving as part of their core traditions. In Judaism, there’s tzedakah. In Christianity, tithing. In Islam, zakat. Across different belief systems...

Connection with Practice

Religious communities usually come with built-in connection. Weekly gatherings. Holiday meals. People celebrate and grieve together. That was my experience growing up Jewish. I’ve been to Seders...

Notice with Practice

Prayer is a daily ritual for many religions. In Muslim tradition, they pause to pray five times a day. Christians and Jews traditionally say a short prayer before meals. While the words and reasons...

Repeat with Practice

Across many religious traditions, chanting, singing, or repeating phrases has been part of prayer, meditation, or ritual for centuries. But you don’t need to follow a specific belief system to feel...

Rest with Practice

Many major religions set aside time each week for rest: In Judaism, the Sabbath is from Friday evening to Saturday evening. For Christians, Sunday is the traditional day. In Islam, Friday is a day of...

Choose Your battles with Support

I used to think every battle was worth fighting. If something didn’t feel right, I reacted. I spoke up, pushed back, made it known. I thought that was strength. I didn’t want to feel like a...