10 Ways to Motivate Yourself When You Feel Like Giving Up

One of the harshest realities you will ever face in life is that 98% of people never fulfil their dreams. There is nothing great about being one of them, yet chances are you already belong to that club. The most important thing to realise is that giving up is not the answer, but finding ways to motivate yourself is.

So many people failed again and again before becoming some of the most successful people in the world. Success would never have come to them if they had quit along the way. We completely understand why you might want to give up: sometimes things get really tough and all we feel like doing is throwing in the towel.

We have gathered some of the best ways to motivate yourself when you feel like quitting. The following tips will help you spark your motivation and inspiration and keep going, so you can achieve the dreams you set out to accomplish. Here are some of the best motivation tips.

1. Embrace the struggle

We know how clichéd this may sound. Most things in life that are worth having are rarely easy to get. Most people have to go through struggle, pain, sacrifice and sleepless nights to achieve great things, but in the end it is usually well worth it.

Failures are part of life, and so is the urge to give up. But if you want something badly enough, you can take a break, recharge and then get back into the fight for the success you are after.

2. Keep reminding yourself why

If you are struggling with motivation right now, there is no better way to regain it than reminding yourself why you are doing this. The urge to quit may feel overwhelming, and you might be wondering whether it is all worth it. Perhaps your journey is taking longer than you expected, things are not going to plan, or you have lost faith in yourself and lost sight of what you were aiming for.

Whatever the case, think about your reason. Why do you want this, and what made you start in the first place? Do you need to reassess your goals and change things up to find your motivation again?

3. Think of the people you can't let down

Whatever you are trying to achieve, there are people who support you, believe in you and depend on you. One of the best ways to stay motivated is to think about the people you don't want to disappoint.

Think about them and how it would affect them if you gave up before reaching your goals.

4. Recognise how far you've come

When you feel stuck and need a boost, look back at all the progress you have made so far. Along the way you have learned, grown and changed, or discovered strengths you didn't know you had. Acknowledge these things, recognise the growth you have achieved, and let it be the motivation you need.

If, for example, you are halfway through building a startup that doesn't seem to be growing, think about everything you had to do to get here. Will all that effort, struggle and time go to waste? If you are already halfway there, the hardest part is over, and you just need a little more drive to finally get where you want to be.

5. Forget about perfection

Striving for perfection is admirable, but you need to understand that it is unattainable. If you are always chasing perfection, disappointment may follow you more often than you would like.

When you hit an obstacle, change direction and find alternative ways to make things work. Sometimes things happen completely unexpectedly and turn out even better than our original plans. If needed, take a few steps back, shift your perspective and see how you could reach your goals differently.

6. Consider what happens after you quit

One of the most important reasons to find ways to inspire yourself is to think about what will happen after you give up. It is easy to talk yourself out of something, but have you considered the consequences of quitting? How will it affect your professional and personal life?

How will it affect your self-respect, and how will it feel to be responsible for a failure? What will happen if you stop working, or abandon that small business or your university studies?

7. Find someone to hold you accountable

Accountability is one of the strongest things that can keep you motivated, especially when it involves someone you don't want to let down. Being accountable for your actions keeps you aligned with your goals and is one of the best ways to stay inspired. Meeting with someone regularly, or knowing that someone expects results from you, is an excellent way to keep pushing yourself.

8. Use external rewards

If you want to know how to motivate yourself, try giving yourself external rewards for the small steps you take. Whenever you notice your motivation dipping, take small steps towards a reward you really want, something that makes you look forward to finishing. Treat yourself to a special snack or watch a few episodes of your favourite series when you are done.

If you have a big project, you can make it a habit to buy yourself something nice every time you complete a task. Get inspired by enjoying the things you love, or by going online and reading motivational books, picture quotes and success stories. Seeing that things weren't easy for others either will give you the push to keep going until you succeed too.

9. Take a break and find ways to relax

Life can feel like a rat race, and sometimes all you need is to take a break and reset your whole perspective. The motivation you need may come from looking at your project with fresh eyes and a different point of view. Take a break and find ways to unwind, whether that's a massage, a long drive, an activity or hobby you love, or meditation.

10. Be proud of yourself

Even if you are taking small steps and the task ahead looks like a mountain you will never conquer, look back and be proud of how far you have come. This will inspire you to take more steps, however small. Give yourself a pat on the back for the small wins and remember that you can only reach your goals if you keep going, not if you give up.

How to find inspiration when you want to give up

Most people struggle with motivation from time to time, especially when things don't go according to plan.

Giving up should not be an option until you have done everything you can.

Now that your motivation is back, whether you are studying, starting a business, leading a project, or chasing fitness, personal or property goals, keep these tips close and return to them whenever your drive starts to fade.