What is your favorite way to stay motivated while working as an independent?

Oh! I love this question. I listen to music or a book depending on the type of work I’m doing. But I also schedule in-person and virtual coworking sessions with friends 1-2 times a week for at least an hour. I normally work one day a week at a coffee shop too which is really motivating.

What a great question! Music helps me too, and also sometimes a morning dance party can get me moving and motivated :) 

Another thing I did last year that was helpful was working out of the home 1 day a week - in a coffee shop or co-working space. Just getting around other people where LIFE is happening is motivating to me. 

And this last one may sound counterintuitive, but taking some time for myself, whether that be to read, exercise, shower, or get some chores done, helps me keep my mind right!

(PS - check out Jon Acuff’s book Soundtracks. It is hilarious, and helped me keep a really positive mindset last summer!)

This is a great question! I love listening to either audiobooks or podcasts while I work - it helps me move through tasks much faster.  I also throw in the occasional music as well.

I also am a big fan of running an oil diffuser while I work! Essential oils don’t work for everyone, but there are times when they really help me focus. Sometimes, taking a break to write or having some other type of creative outlet that is NOT work-related helps, too.

My favorite way to get and stay motivated is very visual! I do two things to find my motivation:

1. I have all my goals, my why, any inspiration, mantras, positive sayings, etc. printed out and on the wall behind my desk. When I see the goals AND the “why” I need to achieve those goals, it’s easier for me to connect my daily tasks or specific to-dos with my why.
2. I have “cue routines” that took a bit to establish, but now they are almost automatic and get me in the mood to work. For example, I have a room spray that I spray just before I need to sit down to work. Then I light a candle and set it in front of me.  So the smell and the lights trigger “it’s time to work” :)

Hope those help!! 

@JennBays getting out of the house or office and into a coffee shop is THE BEST! I started doing this once a week and feel not only motivated but also inspired by people I meet there too.

To keep motivated:

I wish I could do audio books or podcasts, but I get distracted too easily, so that is out. 

I have to time block and bribe myself to stick with it. Sometimes I love what I am doing, sometimes it is tedious …. so either way I need to remind myself to STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER. So I work on something for say, an hour, then do some reward for 15, then back at task. I reward myself with silly things too… so you do you, but I do things like: writing (pen and paper), an easy household chore, a lay down, read a book, phone call, podcast during break while I do a physical task. So, whatever works for you!

Hats off to those who can listen and be productive. I can only listen to the same play list I have had for ten years and drives my hubby nuts if I do listen. LOL. 

Love this question - I like to use essential oils in my diffuser  to keep me motivated. 

Depends on the day! I either cowork with someone remotely via zoom, I try to get up and have some kind of movement or stretching once an hour, music, books, or podcasts if I can mentally take it. It really just depends on how I’m feeling that day and then I pick an option out of the tool belt to try and get unstuck.

1. I really love using binaural beats on Spotify to stay focused when I’m doing projects where I get easily distracted. Celebrating neurodiveristy over here! 🖐
2. Body-doubling appointments with a friend. I’ve recently discovered this technique works really well for me! Having the presence of another person with me in my office with cameras on but not much chit-chatting is a real game-changer. 
    

Fellow music girly here! I love listening/singing along to music while I edit. As a photographer though, it helps looking through my best work to remind myself how talented I am. Especially when I feel imposter syndrome! 

Hey hey 

80’s rock or New Pop, I just turn it on and sing along. Somehow I am way more productive when I’m not thinking too hard LOL

@Staci Page omg loooveeeee binaural beats! Shoutout to us neurospicy humans

I love this!

LOL...”not thinking too hard” also is a super power! I love that.

Right on! I keep a file folder of my best testimonials from my coaching clients. It’s such a boost to read how useful my services really are because as a 3/5 emotional projector (human design ;)) I naturally dismiss the value of my core gifts.

Jessica do you sell essential oils?

So honest and authentic. I love your response, Krys. I can’t either, it’s distracting for me too. I have found time blocking helpful too. Have you found the Tomato app? I like the ticking clock feature. I like the audible ticking to remind me how long I am spending on rewriting and reworking pieces of my writing (marketing emails are time consuming for me!). Anyway, I’d love to hear which time blocking system you found most helpful.

@JennBays I think the shift in environment shifts our energy. It feels more intentional and I get more done.  There’s a great TED talk by Fishbach I just watched the other day about motivation -- it’s really good! It changed my outlook on productivity today. Feeling so much more accepting and peaceful about my goals.

@Kristin Maher I like how you take creative breaks. I see that time as valuable breaks with PLAY. Our western culture just doesn’t value play as much as it does linear productivity. In my home office, I have a collection of fun quotes about the value of mess and experiementation. As humans we are meant to be imperfect -- not robots. In my 25+ years of being an entrepreneur it’s taken me this long to be able to recognize I am NOT wired to be consistent. It’s only the last few years I’ve been able to embrace celebrating my INconsistency :) 

Beyonce, playing anything 90’s related, and some podcasts….you ever want to get me hip in my chair - play “Formation” and I’ll belch out a whole project in less than an hour. 🤣

Music is always a good idea. I like to change the environment, so I will do some work in a beautiful coffee shop each week to do co-work with a business friend. 

A few things I do to help keep me focused and motivated.

- I listen to 8D audio (Neurodivergent and this type of music specifically helps to ground me and help me focus). I also turn on tv shows I’ve seen a million times and don’t have to pay attention to.

-I work from my desktop at my desk or my laptop on the couch. Different tasks are easier for me to do at different locations. 

​​​​​​​-If I’m having a day where it feels like I’m forcing things, I give myself the day off. I try not to do this often and also try not to work up to the wire on deadlines so that I’m able to take a day off here and there. If my brain feels like a ping pong ball, it’s time to take a day to relax.