Have you been struggling to stay motivated this week? Me too…

As we wrap up the final working days before the holiday break, it is difficult to stay on task, focused, and keep your head in the game when all we are thinking about is traveling, running errands, grabbing those last-minute gifts, and getting things done around the house. If you’re an entrepreneur like me, then you know this decrease in motivation can be detrimental to your productivity. 

The good news is that there are four simple things you can do today to help you stay motivated through the holiday season.

1. Get enough sleep

Although this may seem obvious, it’s a simple thing that we often overlook, but can make a big difference in our levels of motivation and productivity during the day. Although it’s easy to stay up late wrapping holiday gifts or watching your favorite holiday-themed movies with the kids, don’t skimp on your seven or eight hours. Prioritize getting your much-needed shuteye!

2. Get up

If you’re struggling with getting up in the morning, find small ways to motivate yourself upon waking. For example, some tactics you can try include:

• Leave motivational notes next to your bed or on your phone
• Think about something you’re excited to do that day
• Use a sunrise alarm clock
• Tell yourself how great you will feel once you get up
• Develop a morning routine that you can not only follow consistently, so you don’t have to think about getting up, but one that you look forward to

Remember, getting up is the hardest part of your day. Once you’ve done that, the rest is easy—you just have to get up and do it!

3. Get moving

Although many groan at the thought of getting up early and exercising—especially if you live in a climate where it is dark and cold early in the morning this time of year—I swear by this tactic. Even stretching, doing low-impact aerobics, or a quick 10 or 15-minute jog on a treadmill is enough time to get your blood moving, which boosts cognitive performance and endorphins. Not only does this allow you to start your day off on a healthy note, but it can lead to a highly productive day.

4. Accomplish Something

Even if you get up and start the day on a positive, healthy note, sometimes staying motivated throughout the day is challenging. If you are staring blankly at your computer screen, trying to find enough motivation to finish what you’re working on, or having serious thoughts about blowing off or scheduling that upcoming meeting, try to focus on accomplishing something—it doesn’t matter how large or small.

It might seem insignificant, but even accomplishing the smallest of tasks will boost your motivation enough to “do the thing”. You’ll also feel better once you finish it and cross it off your to-do list.

Enjoy a Happy, Healthy—and Motivated—Holiday Season

You are likely counting down the days—and hours—to the holiday break. And amidst the whirlwind of gift-buying, gift-wrapping, and adding items to what feels like a neverending to-do list, it is an incredibly difficult time of year to stay motivated and focused.

However, by maintaining a positive and productive routine as consistently as possible, you can conquer the “merry motivation” killers, accomplish what you need to, and finish the end of the working year strong, all while enjoying a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season.