How do you get Motivated?

[Willing and Unsure]

This is a bit more specific than that. I'm going to be moving sometime soon and cant seem to get motivated to start cleaning and getting things ready for the move. Does anyone have any suggestions for me that might help me get more motivated to do this stuff so I can move?

Thanks all in advance.

 

[silverwhisper]

W&U: apologies if this is unwelcome, but i can't help thinking that subconsciously, you're resisting the move on some level.

packing up your stuff is a very annoying thing to do. after all, it isn't that it's particularly hard a job: it's just monotonous, boring and extremely time-consuming. c'mon, who really wants to do that? i worked data entry for 2 years and it was all of those things, but hey, i was getting paid to do it! :>

here's how i did it, though: try setting aside a block of time (maybe 1-2 hours/day) and figure out what things you realistically can pack now (e.g., non-seasonal clothing, books or other things you don't use) and do that. the trick, i think, is to break it into a series of smaller tasks: pack up the books, for example, or maybe your winter clothing. remember to reward yourself a little for accomplishing each task.

ed

 

[bisexplicit]

For doing boring things, I try a series of techniques:
1) Set a timer.
- I find that giving a time limit (okay, I only have to do this stuff for a half hour) really helps. And that way you feel like you accomplished something, but its not like you have to do /everything/.
2) Put on music/tv.
- Its usually nice to have a distraction while doing a monotonous task. For me, I love to sing along to the radio or a cd while I'm doing something boring.
3) Find a friend/relative who is willing to help.
- Not only will it lessen the amount you need to do by yourself, but its also nice to have someone to talk to.
4) Reward yourself.
- Like silver said, rewards for even doing little things are helpful. If a reward isn't motivational enough, you can do this backwards instead. For example; "I can't go to the movies until I do blah." or "I can't meet my friends for dinner until I do blah."

 

[DelicateFlower]

For doing boring things, I try a series of techniques:
1) Set a timer.
- I find that giving a time limit (okay, I only have to do this stuff for a half hour) really helps. And that way you feel like you accomplished something, but its not like you have to do /everything/.
2) Put on music/tv.
- Its usually nice to have a distraction while doing a monotonous task. For me, I love to sing along to the radio or a cd while I'm doing something boring.
3) Find a friend/relative who is willing to help.
- Not only will it lessen the amount you need to do by yourself, but its also nice to have someone to talk to.
4) Reward yourself.
- Like silver said, rewards for even doing little things are helpful. If a reward isn't motivational enough, you can do this backwards instead. For example; "I can't go to the movies until I do blah." or "I can't meet my friends for dinner until I do blah."

These are all great points...

I just moved a couple of months ago and found it a helluva lot easier to pack everything if I spent 2 days throwing out things I didn't want or need anymore. It's amazing to me how much crap I had laying around my old apartment that I didn't even know I had.

If you have too much stuff that you don't really want to "throw out" call the local Goodwill and have them come pick it up.

Before I did that....I called all my friends, put all the stuff I had planned on giving to goodwill or throwing away in my living room, and they came over and took whatever they wanted.

It ended up that I didn't have to use a moving truck at all. All of my stuff fit into two of my friend's trucks.

Hope that helps. Good luck with the move

DF

 

[Willing and Unsure]

thanks. these are all great suggestions. The nice thing about my move is that I dont actually have to pack anything. I've got professional movers that are coming in for that, and anything they ship that they dont pack is not insured. I've just got to clean my room up (I'm moving out of my parents' house) and get rid of everything I dont want, need, or use anymore.

silverwhisper, there is a level where I dont want to go. I'm moving cross-country, as well as moving out for the first time. I'm going to be leaving everything I have ever really known, as well as my family, friends, wonderful boyfriend, and so on. So, it is a little mind boggling, especially since it is happening really really fast.

 

[silverwhisper]

yeah, that would definitely do it. good thing you've got pros coming in, then. :>

ed

 

[SweetErika]

For cleaning or packing, I divide the room into sections (as small as necessary), and just commit to doing one section. For example, I'll commit to cleaning up my bedside table...that's a very manageable task that will only take a few minutes. Generally, when I get done with that, I'll just work to the next section, but I don't have to because I've already accomplished the goal. It provides a fair amount of positive reinforcement in itself.

 

[Lynxie]

I've moved 11 times in the last 6 years, counting college. You think I'd be used to it by now, but I hate it more than ever. My husband and I even have trouble keeping our apartments clean, because we're so accustomed to them being temporary living spaces, versus actual homes.

And within a month or so I'll be doing it all over again... but this time to an actual house of our own. I should start cleaning and going through stuff myself, but I'm having motivation issues as well. Hopefully some of the ideas here will help me get going.

Good luck with your move, W&U.

 

[Ricwilly]

Concerning such matters, I usually just wait untill the last minute and then do everything half ass in a panic rush.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

Concerning such matters, I usually just wait untill the last minute and then do everything half ass in a panic rush.

that's what I'm trying to avoid doing.

 

[Ricwilly]

that's what I'm trying to avoid doing.

Yeah, I figured. LOL. Was just sayin what I always do.