How to Stay Motivated (12 Simple Tips from a Military Vet)

You wake to prepare for your run, but you check your weather app and notice it is raining.

Guess who’s getting more sleep!?

Or you get home from work knowing you must start writing that book you wanted to finish.

But you’re tired, and the Thursday night football will start in one hour!

Those dreams of completing your first half marathon or becoming an author will never come to fruition.

Why?

BECAUSE YOU CAN’T STAY MOTIVTED! (I know discipline plays a role, too, but we’ll save that subject for another day.)

I get it.

Life is hard.

You have to balance being a good parent, good coworker, and good son, all the while battling what life throws at you, including the deaths of family members and friends and random emergency surgeries (thank you, appendix).

So, when you have a goal in mind that is based on dopamine, you have to find a way to keep that feeling alive.

Today, I will show you 12 simple yet effective tips to help you stay motivated and keep that feeling alive.

I have used these tips to help me become the first-ever millionaire in my family and stay out of debt for 19-plus years while serving my country in the military and being a great spouse and father.

If you want to know which affirmation method will help your dreams become a reality, who you should tell about your goals to keep you in check, and more, this is a must-read for you.

Let’s dive right in.

How To Stay Motivated (12 Must-Know Tips for Increased Productivity)

1. Tell Someone That You Care About

“Sharing your goal with a higher-up does more than keep you accountable; it also makes you more motivated, simply because you care what this person thinks of you. For example, telling a mentor or manager about your hopes to get promoted could light a fire under you more than a peer or friend.”

-CNBC

That statement is so true.

When I tell my wife something (she is my higher-up), I feel like I have to finish what I started.

A ginormous sense of pride and pressure happens when I tell her.

For example, told her I have a 10-year plan to make $100,000 a month online.

I have been working on that goal for about a year and a half.

The pressure is there.

The stress is real.

Now, to clarify, it’s good stress, not bad stress.

I value her.

I hold everything about her to the highest, especially her opinion.

So when my wife, that person I hold so high that I am going to do something, day in and day out, I am motivated to put effort toward that task.

You can do the same.

If you don’t have someone on standby, it can be a Facebook group you visit often.

If you have a page about Getting Out of Debt and a goal to pay off a $10,000 loan, message those folks!

You’re part of the inner circle for a reason.

It’s because, at some level, you value what they say.

There may be some debt experts in the room that you look up to.

Get excited.

Post the goal (or private message).

And I’m telling you, you will have this little voice gnawing away at you to make daily commitments to what you said you would do.

This will keep you on the path to success.

2. 3-6-9 Affirmation Method

“I am a successful creator that makes over $100K a month online.”

That is my affirmation.

That is what I use for the 3-6-9 Affirmation method.

What is the 3-6-9 affirmation method?

Before that, let’s dive into a bit of bro science.

Essentially, you have two types of brain modes:

• Default (The lizard brain)
• Intentional

The default mode is when you’re not doing any focused activity.

For example, if you are taking a driver’s test, your mind is engaged with a specific purpose.

While waiting for that line test, you were probably in default mode.

Unfortunately, you may notice many Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) when in default mode.

For some weird reason, the brain is wired to think negatively.

Maybe it was a survival method for our ancestors to keep our adrenal/cortisol up so we don’t get eaten by a liger.

IDK, I digress…

These same ANTs can halt our motivation and keep us from achieving what we want in life.

So, what do we do about these ANTs?

Turn them into positive thoughts, of course! 

But Charles, how do you do that?”

Use the following 3-6-9 affirmation method.

1. When you wake up, write down your goal three times. Be specific. Like I said before, mine is, “I am a successful creator who makes over $100K a month online.” Then, read it to yourself three times.
2. Do step one six times
3. Do step one nine times

Do that affirmation technique every day until you reach your goal.

Also, it is key that you say the affirmation as you already achieved.

Say it with positive energy.

Feel as if you have accomplished what you set out to do.

You will slowly start to see those lizard-brain ANTs go from “You will never have success, Charles” to “I am a successful creator that makes over $100K a month online.”

I have yet to achieve my goal.

But my default mode has changed from mostly negative thoughts to positive ones.

It’s a good feeling.

Molding the mind to be on your side is an awesome tool to keep you motivated.

3. Schedule Your Entire Day with a Journal

This one right here is awesome.

It’s almost like a superpower (especially once you master it.)

What do I mean specifically?

Get a notebook and write out, in time slots, what your day will consist of.

Here’s an example of what my typical remote working day consists of:

• 6:00 – 7:45 – Wakeup and get kids ready for school
• 7:45 – 8:00 – Get tea/coffee ready
• 8:00 – 8:45 – Write
• 8:45 – 9:00 – Walk, eat, restroom
• 9:00 – 9:45 – Write
• 9:45 – 10:00 – Walk, eat, restroom
• 10:00 – 10:45 – Write
• 10:45 – 11:00 – Walk, eat, restroom
• 11:00 – 11:45 – Write
• 11:45 – 12:00 – Walk, eat, restroom
• 12:00 – 13:00 – Meditate/Nap
• 13:00 – 13:15 – Get ready to workout
• 13:15 – 1400 – Exercise
• 14:00 – 1430 – Shower, eat, get ready to get kids
• 14:30 – 16:30 – Get kids, focus on them for a couple of hours
• 16:30 – 18:30 – Greet wife from work, focus on her, prepare for tomorrow
• 18:30 – 20:00 – Get ready for bed
• 20:00 – 0:600 – Rest

That is how I use a journal to plan my day.

This allows you to control time, as opposed to time controlling you.

You find a point in the day, grab pen and paper, and create destiny.

This has been a game-changer for me regarding focus and staying motivated.

This helps eliminate random thoughts.

If it is not on the schedule, I don’t do it (well, of course, I flex, but for things like Netflix and social media, I don’t even think about it.

So, if you’re having issues staying on track, grab a journal right now and write out your day!

4. Vision Board

Go to Canva now, get a free account, and create a vision board.

You’ll thank me later.

Why do you need one?

To help you stay motivated, of course!

“Americans check their phones 144 times a day.”

-Forbes

If you create a vision board and put that image on your phone desktop, you will see your goals and dreams at least 144 times a day.

That means you have a greater chance of achieving your goals.

Some may think you will become desensitized to your cell phone home page.

Not true.

If you’re a family with kids, you probably have your children as your default image.

While you check your phone for the thousandth time in 24 hours, I bet you paused, looked at how beautiful your kiddos are, wondered where the time went, and said,” They grow so fast!”

Go to Canva, create a collage of things you want to accomplish, slap that picture on your homepage, and watch your subconscious work magic.

Another instrument for your motivation toolbag.

5. Read, Read, Read

This one is simple.

Read books.

See how others created wealth.

See how others mastered their minds to get what they desire.

See how others came from a life filled with struggles, just like you, but then reached the mountaintop.

So what should you read?

Here are a few options:

• The Mood Cure by Julia Ross – If you want to stay motivated, you must learn how to control that ever-so-wondering brain. This book is the ultimate cheat code for figuring out your mood and getting into your desired state. This is a must-buy for success and life in general.
• A New Earth (Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose) by Eckhart Tolle – Some might think this is hippy-dippy, but giving it a chance can help squash negative thoughts and focus on what’s important in life or what you value.
• Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins – Most of you know who David is. If you’re having self-doubt or a pity party, pick this book up, and you’ll be instantly motivated to get going.
• The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing – is just a simple book to show you that the road to wealth can be a simple path. Sometimes, when trying to make an extra buck, things can get too complicated, and complicated gain destroys your motivation.
• Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It – If you’re starting a business, you must communicate with someone at some point, and to some, that can be intimidating. Read this, and you’ll feel you can convince anyone of anything.

Now, get those books and get motivated.

6. Get Your Power 5

What is a Power 5?

It’s five positive people who share similar goals or have the knowledge you crave to attain your dream.

They can be people you know physically or influencers on the internet.

Here’s an example of my Power 5:

(SIDE NOTE: Use the Owl Method when absorbing knowledge. Owls eat their prey whole (i.e., mice) and then regurgitate the bone’s fur, keeping the nutrients. You need to absorb all information from all sources, keep the good, and spit out the bad…now onto my Power 5)

• Alex Hormozi: All things marketing.
• Tom Bilyeu: Motivation and self-improvement hacks.
• My First Million: Podcast about how people made their first million and millionaires/billionaires just sharing tips.
• Dan Koe: Self Improvement focusing on “How to Stay Focused.”
• TED: Self Improvement info from all walks of life.

Start with my list if you don’t have one.

Just that group alone will keep you motivated for days.

7. Use Production Apps

Nowadays, there’s an app for everything.

If you know where to look, they can be game changers when achieving your goal.

If you don’t know where to start, I highly suggest you check out AppSumo.

It’s a place to buy lifetime deals on apps.

Because, as you all know, monthly subscriptions can add up!

What apps can help you stay motivated exactly?

Here are a few budget-friendly ones that I use just about daily:

• UpBase: All-in-one work management platform that’s simple and easy to use. Timers, checklists, whatever you need to keep you on track.
• BoardMix: Create mind maps, diagrams, presentations, sticky notes, and more in seconds with generative AI.
• ChatGPT: An awesome chatbot that will help you answer all things life within seconds.

Those are just a few.

With this whole AI boom, you need to know that whatever you’re working on, there is an app that will help you do this faster and better.

If you do things faster and better, it keeps you engaged.

It keeps that fire burning.

8. Set an Opposite Goal

So what does that mean?

If you’re trying to become a certified RNA, set another goal to learn to weave.

So, for example, I am setting a goal to make $100K a month online in 10 years.

I set the opposite goal of learning Spanish.

On days I stay home, I work on the blog from 0800-1200, and then from 1200-2000, I squeeze in some Spanish sessions here and there with Dualongo.

It’s fun.

It takes the stress off of continuously focusing on the main goal.

That helps me stay motivated. 

9. Get Your Nutrients Right

A lot of folks don’t know this.

But you don’t feel like doing anything productive or just sticking to your goals because you’re likely deficient in some nutrients.

If you can’t find the fire to get going, here’s a list of basic supplements that I use to help give me the boost I need to write on the days I don’t want to:

(NOTE: Consult a professional before taking any supplements; these are suggestions 🙂 )

• Swanson Vitamin B-Complex w/Vitamin C – I take one with a full glass of water as soon as I wake up.
• NOW Supplements, ADAM™ Men’s Multivitamin – I take one around lunch and 5 pm.
• Triple Strength Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplement – This is a two-a-day pill, but I only have to take one to experience the effects because it’s such a high dose.
• Doctor’s Best High Absorption Magnesium Glycinate – This should be taken at night for good sleep. You will also feel the effects of better concentration and decision-making over time.

If you are the type of person who gets motivated initially and that joy fizzles, you must get educated on the supplements above.

I used to be like that.

Have a goal, get excited, and buy the equipment. 

Then, weeks later, I would not want to do it.

Months later, I’d look back at how much money I wasted on whatever tools I needed for the project because I never lost steam or quit.

I started taking those supplements, and it was a game-changer when it came to being and staying motivated.

10. Get Vitamin D

“Sunshine is the best source of vitamin D, and sunshine is what gives us energy. It’s nature’s battery recharge.”

– Dr. Frank Lipman, author of “How to Be Well”

Speaking of which, I took a walk break with my family before I got to this block.

Easy 1 mile around the block.

I feel refreshed and ready to go!

People forget that you NEED vitamin D.

It’s an essential nutrient.

You need to get it to have more energy.

It’s not rocket science.

My very first assignment was Alaska.

There was not much sun there.

I worked shift work.

So I went in when the sun went down and went to sleep when the sun went up.

I never saw the sun.

Fast forward three years, and when I left for Maryland, I felt like my old self.

The drive to work felt good.

Walking from my parked vehicle into my work center, the flowers and the green grass made me smile.

I thought,” Maryland was the best place ever!”

Soon after, my wife came to Maryland (military as well).

She said the same thing.

But, we realized there wasn’t anything special about Maryland.

Some of the locals around where we live we’re kinda rude.

Traffic sucked.

But we realized later it was the sun.

My wife and I shared stories of how we would sleep 16 hours a day in Alaska or just not be motivated to hang out.

We thought that was normal because who wants to go out in the cold?

Come to find out, a doctor told us we were suffering from symptoms of depression caused by lack of daylight.

So, do yourself a favor.

When you have a chance to get some sun, go for a 20-minute walk (preferably between 1100 and 1400 for optimal nutrient absorption).

You will get the supercharge you never knew you needed.

11. Walk 8k Steps a Day.

“Over time, regular exercise remodels the reward system, leading to higher circulating levels of dopamine and more available dopamine receptors.” –

-Greater Good

You don’t necessarily need 8K steps a day.

Heck, even a 10-minute walk will do.

The entire day feels good at that 8K mark.

Even when I’m tired.

If I go for a walk, I have more energy to work on things than before.

I add walks whenever possible.

They are usually tied at the 45-minute mark.

It takes 45 minutes to work at the computer and 15 minutes to walk.

If your boss says you can’t do that, tell him you’re taking a mental reorganization session.

Think of how you will attack the next portion of your assigned task.

You can also get steps in on longer restroom breaks.

Go to the restroom on a different floor farthest from your desk once an hour.

You get those steps in.

The dopamine grows.

The blood flow increases.

And so does the productivity.

Oh, you can grab a $15 dumb pedometer on Amazon.

That’s what I use to track my steps.

12. Prioritize Bedtime

Last but not least, we have bedtime.

But how much bedtime?

Nine hours is a must.

“Nine hours, Charles, that’s impossible!”

I don’t mean nine hours sleeping.

I mean nine hours in your bedroom, with no TV or phone time.

“Your wind-down time should begin 1-2 hours before you plan to fall asleep.”

-Rise Science

During that timeframe, you can brush your teeth, shower, read, journal, meditate, or just get sleep.

You need energy to live, thrive, and accomplish goals.

To get that, you need proper rest.

Both for your body AND your brain.

You are stimulated 24/7.

You can’t just stop thinking about everything downloaded throughout the day by shutting off your iPhone and closing your eyes.

Your brain needs time to recover from the hurricane of information it has received within the last 16 hours.

And this process takes more time than the second it takes to turn off your device.

So, starting today, do yourself a favor tonight, and for the next two weeks, if you usually go to bed at 10 PM, shut off all electronics at 8 PM.

You will see a difference in your sleep quality.

You will wake up with more energy.

You will have a higher chance of accomplishing what you set forth.

Recap

Okay, let’s take a look at what we went over:

• If you have a dream you’re chasing, tell someone you admire.
• Use the 3-6-9 affirmation method to mold your mind into an unstoppable, motivated machine.
• Take time. Make time. Do that by journaling every second of the day.
• Create a vision board to see what you’re chasing every single day.
• Read non-fiction self-improvement as much as possible.
• Get five positive mentors, whether on social media or in person.
• Use productivity apps as much as possible to save time on mundane tasks.
• Keep it fresh by having a goal that is in a completely different category.
• Focus on your micronutrient intake if you’re having difficulty staying focused.
• Take breaks in the sun. It’s a giant energy source made to recharge your battery.
• Boost dopamine by getting at least 8K steps a day.
• Priority your bedtime. This will give you ample energy for the awesomeness of tomorrow.

“Less than 1% of the population achieve the goals they set out for themselves”

-Goalscaling

You already know why that is.

Life is so dang hard.

If you take a hard look, it’s set up for many people to fail.

The cost of living, both monetarily and mentally, is taxing.

There is little time in a day to accomplish anything.

Even figuring out the complicated human mind and body is highly time-consuming and stressful.

Now, add achieving goals to that list.

IMPOSSIBLE!!!

Unless…

You use the steps we just discussed to stay motivated.

You deserve to be a kid again.

You deserve to find that joy again.

You deserve to be giddy again.

Get that self-induced insomnia by being so excited for the next day.

So amped to work on the goals you set out for yourself.

Do what we just discussed to keep that motivation going, and you will have a greater chance for your dreams to come true.

I’m looking forward to hearing about your success.

Thanks for reading.

Have a blessed day.