Productivity | Melissa Dawn Simkins

The Key To Turning Motivation Into Action

These days, the buzzword “self help” is one that is thrown around often.

So much so that the self help industry is estimated to grow to well over $13 billion dollars in value within the next two years.

Even with that statistic aside, it’s very evident that a lot of people, around the world, are seeking motivation, inspiration, and ways to improve their quality of life.

Yet here’s the catch when it comes to motivation…

Motivation, without action, is empty.

It’s easy and often mindless to just scroll through your phone, and social media, looking for inspiration. From reading motivational quotes, books, to even watching motivational videos; all of this might make you feel motivated, temporarily.

But the disconnect is the lack of action. So, what are you doing to turn motivation into action?

How Do You Turn Motivation Into Action?

Start with baby steps. Ask yourself right now, in this moment, “What can I do to take small steps forward, and start to turn my motivation into action?”

Let’s take getting up earlier in the mornings, for example. Many of us might struggle with hitting snooze, or even turning off our alarms altogether.

So what are some simple steps that can be taken to use the motivation, and achieve the goal?

Lay out your clothes the night before.
Set your alarm clock/phone out in the hall, so that you have to get out of bed to turn it off.
Set your coffee maker to start making coffee around the new time that you want to wake up.

All of these are action items that can help you work towards achieving the goals that you were motivated to set. The good news is that the process is often cyclical.

When motivation leads to action, that action often prompts further motivation!

Motivation Into Action: Moving Beyond

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to discourage you from reading motivational books or articles. But if and when the words do truly motivate you to want to make change, I highly encourage that you move beyond just the thoughts and the words, and start translating them into action items.

The action, and the doing, is where you will start to see the change happening.

On a personal level, I’m someone who truly loves motivation and helping others, which is why I make these episodes, write these articles, and even create our Velvet Suite courses and events.

But at the end of the day, I’m a strategist. So I know that without both motivation and direction – or without “the how” – that I can get stuck, and even start to become doubtful. Which is exactly what prompted me to want to talk through the concept of pushing motivation into action with you today.

Wrapping Up: How Will You Move Motivation Into Action?

I want to encourage you to look at this from a big picture perspective, to start. Then break it down into bite-sized pieces, and identify the steps that can help you move forward in these processes that you are undertaking. Don’t let your ideas and desire to change overwhelm you… break the change down, into small action steps.

Wrapping up, what step will you take today to take action, and move your motivation into achievement? Comment below and let me know, I want to hear all about it!

Do you tend to struggle to put together a course of action when it comes to systems, and goals?

Check out our free 90-Day Personal Brand Template!

Keys To Increase Productivity

We all have those days where we struggle with getting motivated, and being productive.

We might roll over and hit snooze a few times before beginning our day… or decide, “I think I’m going to push some of these meetings until later this week…”

I can relate. It can be a struggle to increase productivity… but it’s not impossible.

Feeling flat, and undermotivated isn’t just something that we can flip a switch on. But one thing I’ve noticed that helps me when I am feeling this way, is to acknowledge that it’s time to take a step back, and take a look at a system that I have in place called P.O.D.D.

Keys to productivity: Implementing P.O.D.D.

First, let’s start with what P.O.D.D stands for….

Prioritize
Organize
Delegation
Discipline

If followed step by step, this method helps you to define what really matters, and in the process, get back a little bit more time.

Keys to Productivity: Prioritize

A simple way to look at is this: we all have 24 hours in one day. We all have the same amount of time to be productive, or to not be productive. What we choose to do with that time is what is going to make the difference.

So, let me ask you this: what are your key priorities?

Take a minute, and list them out. Jot them down, or in the notepad on your phone.

What are the factors that increase productivity?

Now that you have your key priorities down, it’s time to move on to the next stage in the P.O.D.D process: Organize.

Someone once told me that your inbox is actually managing other people’s priorities (when it comes to work). But if we let others priorities govern our life, and our time, then we end up exhausted and potentially burnt out.

This is why it’s key to not only list out your priorities, but organize them across your life, across your calendars and planners, so that you are going to truly put your priorities first when managing your time.

Keys to Productivity: Delegation

The next step in the P.O.D.D process of productivity is delegation. Let’s start with this question: what is the value that you would place on an hour of your time?

You might already know this if you’re a consultant. A lot of us might not.

Yet we’re all paid for our time and expertise as employees. Take a minute to actually quantify that time; the time that you’re putting into projects, or organizations across your life. How much is each hour worth?

Now here’s the important part of delegation… ask yourself, what things that I’m doing, that I’m allowing to take up my time, are actually below the value of my worth?

Obviously we all have things like chores, doing dishes, yard work, etc. Yet a lot of items and tasks might not be the best use of our precious time. So the next question is, what can you afford to delegate out?

Can you delegate someone to cut the lawn, and get an hour of your weekend back?

Maybe you can delegate a babysitter one night a week, and get back some personal time to relax, reset, and read a favorite book.

A little bit of delegation can actually go a long way when it comes to finding more time, and getting more productive in the process.

How To Be More Productive: Discipline

The final productivity key in the P.O.D.D process is discipline. It’s a word that can get a lot of dirty looks, but it’s an important and final step.

Discipline is what is going to help us stay committed to those keys priorities that we listed out earlier, and it’s what is going to bring us back to keeping them organized, and correctly delegated. Without discipline, the process won’t flow.

Finding ways to continue to stay more disciplined with your time can look a few different ways, a few examples being:

Saying no when you don’t feel comfortable with a time commitment
Setting clear boundaries with your schedule

Keys To Productivity: Establish your own P.O.D.D.

Next time you’re feeling unproductive or depleted, I would encourage you to remember the P.O.D.D process. Start by writing out your own priorities, organize what NEEDS to be done this week, or this day, and then delegate as you are able to.

It may feel overwhelming, but start with a few baby steps, and before you know it, you’ll feel yourself getting back on track with your productivity train. You got this!

Want more motivation – and free tips and tools to help build your brand, and your life? Sign-up below!

Simple Steps To Turn Motivation Into Action