BRAIN TRICKS TO BE MOTIVATED DURING YOUR JOB SEARCH – PART 2

Weekly Motivation #03

So we’ve had our bank holiday yesterday, and now it’s back to work. How do you feel? Well, most probably you need motivation to get your week started right. Here are some tricks to sharpen your motivation, and help you in your daily life when hunting for jobs, and dealing with personal problems.

• Change the way you view and do a task – Psychology teaches us that the most naturally motivating tasks, are the ones in which you enjoy. This basically means that the more you enjoy the process, and the more it relates to you, the more likely you are to complete an activity. You can change how you view daily tasks, by recognising their importance, or making them more fun. For example, if you’ve got accounting to complete, look at it as a symbol of you being in control of your finances. Pin photos of your family around your work area, to remind yourself who you’re working hard for. Make admin tasks more enjoyable by making up little games, or take your laptop outside, so you can enjoy a bit of sun while you work.

• Drink Coffee – Coffee is known to release dopamine (dopamine is a brain chemical that is strongly associated with motivation and reward), into the brain, as well as having the ability to increase mental focus. Scientists have found that caffeine can enhance some cognitive tasks, such as memory functions, and spark off the motivation and reward section in the brain. However, make sure you don’t overdose on caffeine. Too much coffee can lead to an energy slump later in the day.

• Be Active – The body conserves energy in harsher conditions and environments. For example when winter comes, the body saves its energy for surviving, rather than enthusiasm. This is why you may find yourself lacking energy and motivation during cooler, darker months. And the solution is keeping active! By getting outside and moving about, you’re telling your brain to stop conserving energy. You should find that your enthusiasm and motivation return once you give your brain the green light.