Tips for self-motivation

Personal control is an important resource that is not only relevant in the workplace. Humans strengthen the feeling of having our lives under control.

Quite surely you do not only work for the money, but also because you have chosen this path. Missing a sports class or a date to finish a task at work is also a decision. Try not to see yourself as a victim (for example, delete the phrase “I must” from your vocabulary). Instead, view your life as a result of your own decisions. Even if you have the impression that you only react to situations in your life, how you really react is up to you.

So that you can actively think about your choices in life, check the balance every 3 months, i.e. once per quarter: your quarterly balance. This will help you to clarify where you currently stand in your life, and which living areas require you to make more active decisions.

Search for a quiet place for this 30 minute activity. Take a piece of paper and a pen and ask yourself:

• Do I (still/already) live the way I want to live?
• Can I imagine living like this until retirement?
• What do I want to change (decision!) so that it stays this way / that it will be the way I wish?

It is helpful for you to consider all four areas of a successful life. Dealing with the following model also answers the important question:

Who are you when you are not working?

Live in Balance

• Body/Health

  This includes nutrition, recovery, relaxation, sports, in short:physical fitness. Do you take a good care of your body?

• Sense/Culture

  This includes all questions about self-realization. What makes your life meaningful? Religion, spirituality, questions about the future,as well as love can belong to this.

• Family/Contact

  This includes in addition all sources of care, affection and appreciation:family, friends, acquaintances, neighbors, club members - all those who give you a social network. Do you feel well integrated socially?

• Work/Performance

  Surely it will be clear for you what this area includes: satisfaction at work, success,also financially, reputation, career, prosperity. How satisfied are you with your job and your performance?

Peseschkian, N. (1996). Das Geheimnis des Samenkorns: Positive Stressbewältigung. Heidelberg: Springer.