Not all of us possess the sheer willpower needed to accomplish the goals we set out for ourselves — sometimes we get distracted, discouraged, or derailed. Or we have great intentions but can’t seem to muster the mental energy to follow-through. One point we tend to forget is that while nobody else can attain our goals, we can employ various tips and tricks to make achieving them a reality.

  • Make goals part of your schedule. You wouldn’t miss an important scheduled meeting or blow off an appointment or forget to eat daily. Whether your goal is to eat more healthily, write a book, or find a new job, make your goal part of your everyday routine. Brush teeth, get ready for work, spend a half hour moving toward your goal. Do a little something every day by putting this on your calendar or to-do list – and check off that box when you finish it. That gratifying act alone can help reinforce the daily habit.
  • Learn about how to achieve it. If, for example, you want to land a new job, learn all you can about the industry you want to work in and the types of positions that would work best for your experience and background. It also helps to read about the best methods that have worked for others and put them into play for yourself–you can easily find countless articles on why employers hire (and don’t hire) candidates or what they want to see in interviews. Knowledge is power and will power-up your motivation as you pursue various avenues to reach your goal.
  • Don’t go it alone. We ultimately have to motivate ourselves, but we don’t have to go it entirely alone. Find a group that will help you stay focused and support you. Sometimes it’s far too easy to make excuses for not actively working toward your goal that day. Knowing you’ll be accountable to someone will make you more likely to follow through. You’ll be motivated by the sense of responsibility to not let that person down. Plus joining a group of like-minded people may give you new ideas to try, and you’ll find yourself working harder toward your goal either in the spirit of friendly competition or simply support.

Set up a concrete goal and check in with yourself periodically to stay focused and motivated. Remember as well that you don’t have to go it alone, and that a goal worth achieving takes time, patience and persistence. As Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t — you’re right.” Use these tips to reinforce positive thinking.

Reach out to our Long Beach staffing team at Medical Professionals for more tips on staying motivated in your job search!


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