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What motivates you to get up in the morning and start working? And, when you aren’t getting things done like you think you should, where did that motivation go?

First, let me tell you that you can still get things done if you aren’t motivated — it’s just more of a challenge to get started. If your motivation seems to be on vacation, tackle your to-do list in smaller chunks. Just start, with a goal to work on that task for a set amount of time. You may surprise yourself by finding the motivation in the act of doing.

Most time management advice advocates creating a schedule and sticking to it. However, if unforeseen things come up, this can really screw with your mind. It can also drain all the motivation out of you. You start to think, “What’s the point?” So, here’s an idea that can help: Create two to-do lists. On the first you list the things you HAVE to do. On the second, you list the things you’d LIKE to do.

This is just another way to prioritize, but because the lists can be physically separated, it can help you ease your discomfort around your to-do list.

Oh! And be sure to work in some fun every day. All work and no play …. You don’t want to turn into Jack Nicholson in The Shining do you?

Another psychological trick you can play to help you with motivation: use a highlighter to “cross out” accomplished tasks. Crossing out has a negative connotation and highlighting, a positive one. Also, the to-do list looks cleaner and less cluttered without the crossed out text. Better yet, you can tell at a glance how much you have accomplished in the day!