Stay motivated and on track with your projects: 7 tips
The context: motivation, projects and discipline
As explained in our last newsletter, we'd like to take a closer look at topics related to female entrepreneurship, the world of work, everyday life and, of course, tailored looks. ❤️
If our last article was aimed at those who find it hard to switch off while on vacation, this one is for those who have chosen to develop projects this summer.
We all have projects in mind - some ambitious, others more pragmatic: starting a side business, getting back into sport, learning a language, changing careers... And if you need to have 45 projects and 610 tabs open to stay stimulated but sometimes lack focus... this article is for you.
Inspired by an episode of our favorite podcast "J'peux pas j'ai business" by Aline (TheBBoost) and our research, here's a roundup of tips for staying motivated and regular in your projects.
Why discipline matters more than motivation
Motivation fluctuates with time, context and energy. Discipline, on the other hand, must be nurtured.
First step: remember why you started. What long-term goal does this project contribute to? Putting the task in context makes the achievement more plausible.
7 tips to keep your projects on track
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Start simple, then build up the intensity
Over-ambitious goals or endless to-dos lead to procrastination. Break the big goal down into incremental steps.
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Block a slot immediately in the calendar
Time can't be "found", it has to be planned. Set aside recurring time slots (same day, same time) to establish thehabit.
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Set a start and end date
Without a horizon, you give up. Set yourself a deadline and a time to take stock (e.g. "by the end of August, master the basic conjugations in Italian").
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Tracking progress with a tracker
Journal, calendar app, dedicated notebook... Check off what's been done, create reminders, visualize progress. Feedback maintains regularity.
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Choosing an accountability partner
Making a commitment to someone increases consistency: we like to keep our word. Find someone who can give you a boost when you need it.
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Reward yourself every step of the way
Positive reinforcement feeds motivation. Celebrate each milestone (small gift, moment of pleasure) to keep you going.
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Play the "pride and challenge" card
You've already invested effort: why let up now? Challenges stretch your limits and reinforce personal pride.
Bonus: 3 microhabitudes that make all the difference
Deep work vs shallow work
Alternate betweendeep work at peak times andshallow work at the end of the day.
Less multitasking, more focus
The brain doesn't cope well with constant toggling. Reduce the number of tabs and limit yourself to one task at a time.
Daily visual reminders
Sneakers outside the door for running, post-its for your side business, vocabulary cards in sight... Help your future you not to procrastinate.
And don't forget the breaks: they prevent you from running out of breath and help you to stay consistent over time.
Conclusion
We hope you've enjoyed this second magazine-format article - and that it will help you to carry out your projects with regularity, discipline and pleasure. Ambition for the win!
Written by Amélie Delacour
