Motivation is a tool that allows us to get through the day. Without motivation, people would lounge in bed, watching TV and eating bon-bons endlessly. Even if you think you lack motivation, if you are able to get yourself out of bed each day, then there must be some there. The trick is to harness that motivation into tasks that you are not motivated to complete.

Stop feeling guilty. Guilt will accomplish nothing but enforcing the lack of motivation. Instead, list out the reasons why you are not motivated, and either understand and accept them, or do something to change them.

Create small goals for yourself. Small goals are easier to reach and, many times, the accomplishment you feel when you reach a small goal will propel you on to greater work. Try to break your work up into a series of small goals to meet. This makes success and accomplishment all the more doable.

Reward yourself. Make agreements with yourself that, as you reach certain points in your project, exercise or weight loss plan, you will reward yourself with something that you like. The reward can be as simple as watching a TV program you enjoy. But do not give in to yourself--you must make yourself reach the goal in order to get the reward!

Listen to motivational stories on tape or CD. Listening to stories like those found in “Chicken Soup for the Soul” can help you to learn how others motivated themselves through difficult times and difficult tasks. There are also many audio tapes and CDs that discuss motivational techniques without the aspect of a personal story (see Resources below).

Make appointments with yourself. Rather than having just one deadline for a project or making a mental commitment to exercise or eat right, commit to yourself by writing it on your calendar. For projects or work items, make a list of what you want to accomplish each day. Cross off the items as you finish them to help feed your ego. With exercising and eating right, note on your calendar which days you wish to exercise and for how long, or what kinds of fruit and vegetables to add to your diet that day.

Stop beating up on yourself. It is natural and normal to lack motivation sometimes!