Ever felt unmotivated and simply not in the mood to do anything? Yeah, it happens to me too. Use these 3 steps to boost your motivation and productivity!

I had these amazing eight weeks of rocking and rolling after the holidays with all sorts of fabulous ideas and new marvelous clients – it was great! I am usually motivated and ready to take action on goals, but sometimes… I hit a wall.

I feel disconnected with my inner muse – with my purpose!

It happens. Our productivity sinks as we drag our feet around on taking care of things we should be getting done.

This is a slippery slope. While it is GOOD to take a mental health day occasionally, a lack of motivation can get out of hand.

Rather than let your productivity be based on your mood, keep these tools in your retail toolbox and pull them out when the situation gets out of control.

3 Steps to Get Your Motivation Back

1. Connect with your Future Vision and your BIG WHY

One of the biggest reasons we aren’t motivated is because we’ve lost sight of our future vision:

:: What is it that you are trying to achieve with your store?
:: What do you want to get out of it?
:: Why did you decide to open your store? 

Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward. To remind yourself of how you want to inspire others? Once you remember this, you connect to the BIG WHY.  Why you get out of bed each day.

Knowing what my life’s purpose is keeps me going when it gets tough. I am here to show retailers how to find more profit in their store and discover more freedom and fun for their lives. 

My BIG dream is to do it for women all over the world and increase their standard of living – Because independent retailers are the backbone of our communities and economies. 

This has led me to make bold decisions and take risks. I have consulted with hundreds of retailers to achieve greater profit, success and freedom in their business and many other ideas are unfolding to support these dreams.

This BIG WHY drives me to reach new heights and accomplish more.

Create a vision board of your dreams and goals – and then look at it while visualizing yourself already there, every day!

2. Work on a written deadline and then REST

You’ve seen it happen – work always expands to fill the time you have to spend on it.  Write down a tight deadline and then work hard to make it happen. Do this for your strategic daily, weekly and monthly goals.

Then PLAN for a REST.

Sometimes when we feel unmotivated it’s a sign that we need to rest. That’s certainly what happened to me. I just kept going and going, and eventually I couldn’t get anything done. 

SO stop and take a breather.

Relax.

Hang out.

Do something just for fun.

It will give you renewed focus and energy.

3. CHOOSE motivating thoughts!

Often we’ll lose motivation because we’re not thinking motivating thoughts. Zig Ziglar refers to it as Stinkin’ Thinkin’. It’s an extremely easy way to spiral downwards.

I know, I’ve been there! It starts with one negative thought and then you find something else bad too, and those thoughts work like a magnet and all of a sudden you’re so much more aware of another area of your life that’s just no good…

And before you know it, you’re under a big black cloud! 

Don’t you hate that?! Choose to not go down that path.

Choose to not enter that downward spiral.

You have a choice with each thought that enters your head.

Become aware of it. Take a look at it and if it isn’t a thought that moves you closer to your goal – put it aside. 

And then, set up your surroundings to support you.

I surround myself with people and materials that motivate and inspire me. In my car, I’m always listening to podcasts and people who are either teaching me something or motivating me to be better. Around my desk are photos and quotes that inspire me. I change them frequently so that they don’t fade into the background.

We have build the RETAILMavens community to be a supportive surroundings for you – and the RETAILMavens Coaching program guides you through the areas of your store that might be causing a dip in motivation: Not paying yourself consistently or enough, feeling unsure about your inventory and what/how much to buy, having a supportive team and improving your traffic. Click here to sign up for my free training How to increase your sales so you can consistently pay yourself & your staff to learn more about how this program will motivate you and make you a part of a supportive community.