MM: Six Common Motivation Killers 01/25/16 | Four Columns Marketing An obvious key to maintaining productivity is having motivation. It’s what provides us with the fuel we need to get work done, and what makes it easier to do what we love. But sometimes you may find yourself lacking motivation, whether in the workplace or just in life in general. If you do, look around and see if you are able to identify the culprit, then figure out how to eradicate it. These are some of the most common motivation killers: Negativity If you are surrounded by negative people or receive negative news, you may find your energy draining and your motivation depleting. Negativity does nothing but bring you down and suck away your energy. Instead, maintain a positive outlook and surround yourself with encouraging people. Fear of failure Fear of failure is unfortunately rampant in society, and therefore is also a very common motivation killer. But do not let fear rule you! Learn to take risks. Risks, however daunting or scary they may seem, are necessary for growth and improvement, and for reaching your goals. Inactivity Inactivity is another common motivation killer, one that ends up reducing your passion and enthusiasm. The solution? Take action– any action, even small steps toward your goal. Results can’t happen unless you do something. Inattention to health Neglecting your personal health and wellbeing will only take a toll on your body and your happiness. Sleep deprivation, lack of exercise, consuming too much caffeine or sugar, and poor hydration all contribute to a lack of motivation. Make sure to allow yourself time to mentally and physically reset, or else you may find yourself on a motivation roller coaster. Lack of clear goals Having clearly defined goals is crucial. If you don’t, how will you know what steps you need to take to achieve those goals? Know what goals you want to reach and create a plan, a to-do list, or schedule to help keep yourself on track. Lack of meaning If you feel like what you’re doing has no purpose, you surely won’t have any motivation to do it. Without meaning, you don’t have passion or enthusiasm for what you’re doing. If you don’t love what you’re doing or know why you’re doing it, it becomes difficult to stay motivated to keep doing it! These six things work together to kill your motivation and your momentum to keep going. Once you identify the cause of your lack of motivation, you will be better equipped to deal with it, regain motivation and restore productivity.