Do you have days when you simply are not motivated to accomplish what you need to accomplish? It happens to all of us once in awhile. Sometimes it is just a bad day while other times it lasts far beyond a day. Yesterday I had one of those days, likely caused by having too much paperwork to complete. At the peak of procrastinating I decided to go stumbling –one of my favourite “down time” activities. I stumbled across a single web page called There Really Is No Secret. The only thing on the site is the following blurb of text:

That was the perfect motivation for me. I closed my web browser, set a few micro-tasks to accomplish before the end of the day, and got down to business.

But what if your loss of motivation continues for a longer period of time?

If you are struggling to stay motivated and productive right now with your business or at work, you are not alone. Studies show that staying motivated and productive to accomplish tasks is particularly hard for people in the summer.

Here are a few tips:

• Try setting small tasks to accomplish. By accomplishing the small tasks, you are setting yourself up, psychologically, to accomplish the bigger tasks and goals. Reward yourself when you accomplish tasks.

• Take a break. For many entrepreneurs, the work days are long and the risk of burnout is high. Take a break for an hour or so to clear your mind by doing something relaxing and enjoyable. A short break may be all you need.

• Stick to a schedule that works for you and maximizes productivity. The most effective schedule for me has been the 2-in-1 day, a concept I first read about in the book, You’re Hired, by Apprentice winner, Bill Rancic. The 2-in-1 day consists of breaking the day into two parts, each with its own set of tasks and goals. Coaches often train athletes this way by putting them through two separate, intense training sessions daily with one day off per week.

What are your secrets to staying motivated?