You can love what you do but still have times where you lack motivation. And that’s okay. It’s natural because you can’t be “on” 100% of the time. That’s not human. These are some methods that have worked for me in the past to find inspiration again and stay motivated. One thing may work or it may be a mix of these things – do what works best for you!

7 Ways to Stay Motivated

1. Establish a routine – sometimes a routine helps you focus and helps you prioritize the things that are truly important. As I’ve gotten older (I realize this makes me sound like an old fogey), I’ve started appreciating routine more and improving certain skills. Like Mark Manson says in his book “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck“, there’s a certain beauty in committing to something for 5 years and getting really good at it. There’s experiences you have when that happens that you can’t get from trying something new. Establishing a routine will make it easier for this to happen and for you to grow and take satisfaction in certain areas of your life – whether it’s with a new skill, your health, or a relationship.

2. Go to a conference – Attending a conference can invoke a different way of thinking and it provides updates on what’s happening in your field. It can help you form new connections and new ideas that you can apply to your work or your life. If cost is an issue and your conference is work-related, consider if your employer would be willing to pay for you to go to build your skills and network.

3. Read a new book – Reading is great because it’s one of the best ways to learn about life. You get to learn all these awesome lessons from someone who’s experienced so much/someone who’s already lived through it! Nothing beats actual experience but reading can be a great way to open your mind to the different possibilities that are out there. If you’re not sure where to start, James Altucher (American hedge fund manager, entrepreneur, bestselling author, venture capitalist, famous Quora writer, and podcaster) provides a list of the Ten Most Important Books to Expand Your Brain.

4. Hang out with friends – Hearing all the cool shit that your friends are up to in their different industries can help you think of what you’re doing in a different way or help draw up different conclusions. For example, if you’re in healthcare management and you hear about the cool things your friend in design is doing, you might be able to apply some of those principles and methodologies to your own work. Applying best practices from another industry to yours is an awesome principle – why reinvent the wheel when you don’t have to?

5. Hit up someone on LinkedIn/Quora – People are more open to this than you may think. I’ve grabbed lunch with people I met on Quora and it’s a great way to expand your network. Successful people tend to be excited and passionate about what they’re doing and they’re typically happy to share their insights. If you’re nervous about this, that’s totally normal. I was too. But it was helpful to remember that these people got to where they are now because they had help from other folks, so they want to pay it forward.

6. Values – Consider how this activity is related to your values and why it’s worth the money, time, and energy you’re putting into it. Recently, I did an activity from Harvard Business Review where you see if your commitments match your convictions. It was a great exercise in truly seeing how what you’re doing matches up with what you believe in. If it does, great! If it doesn’t, it shows you where the misalignment lies. Here’s a picture of dolphins, just because they’re cute and because this post is getting pretty serious.

7. Do a day of nothing – Sometimes, to feel motivated again, you need to relax. Whether this means being a couch potato and watching Netflix or just getting outside and feeling the breeze, do what you need to do to take a mental break.

What are some ways you like to re-motivate yourself? Feel free to comment below!