Secrets of Enthused, Motivated People

The start of a year is always about motivation.  So, despite what you would like to accomplish in the next year, what you really need to do is adopt these three secrets of inspired people that we featured in 'Real Simple Magazine'.

  * Secret #1:   Anticipate speed bumps in your plan.  Before even trying to achieve a goal, arrangement for potential pitfalls and either preempt them if you are in a position to, or produce a strategy to handle them if they arise.  Peter Gollwitzer is a professor of psychology at New York University, and he says that people who plan for obstacles are more inclined to stick to their objectives than people who don't.  For example, possibly your main aim is to go for a jog every morning.  What if you awaken one day and it's pouring rain?  Have a plan like, "If the weather's bad, I'll spend 20 minutes walking up and down the stairs in the hallway, rather than skipping exercise altogether."  This'll help you stay with your new routine.

  * Another secret of enthused, motivated people:   Go public with your main aim.  James Fowler is a political scientist who studies social networks at the University of California, San Diego.  He says others can help reinforce your behavior.  On balance, it's difficult to abandon a dream when you are aware that people are tracking your progress.  Take 25-year-old Stephanie Samarripa from Dallas.  She wanted to lose 20 pounds, so she created a web log and asked her friends to read it, and hold her accountable.  She weighs herself each week and announces the outcomes on her blog.  Samarripa says the positive comments people leave help keep her going - and keep her in line.

  * Finally:   Challenge yourself, and change things up.  It's difficult to remain enthusiastic when everything stays the same.  That's the word from Frank Busch, who's coached three Olympic swimming teams.  To maintain his athletes enthusiasm, he constantly changes and surprises them - adding a new exercise to their workout routine, or feeding a break from a scheduled practice so they can recharge. So, if your goal is to finish that novel you started, try writing in a different room, or using a notebook rather than your PC.  The more you change things up, the more enthused you will be to stick to it.