How to Increase Motivation: 7 Essential Tips

how to increase motivation

Feeling stuck or unmotivated at work is something we all encounter at times. If you’re experiencing a slump, you’re not alone, but the good news is that there are practical ways to increase motivation and energy at work and reignite your drive.

Breaking out of this cycle starts with identifying practical steps to re-energise yourself. Working with business owners, executives and leaders for years, we have seen firsthand how even the smallest changes in how people approach their day can create a noticeable shift in their focus and productivity.

How Motivation Works

Motivation creates a positive chain reaction. When you are motivated, you feel energised, and when you feel energised, you’re more likely to tackle tasks with confidence and determination.

This renewed focus doesn’t just help you achieve more. It also feeds back into your sense of purpose and creates a new cycle that fuels motivation further. Each step builds energy and momentum, and this makes it easier to stay consistent.

However, it’s worth remembering that motivation is not something that simply arrives. Waiting to “feel” motivated can keep you stuck, while taking action, no matter how small the action is, can help create the motivation you’re seeking.

How to Increase Motivation at Work

If you’re looking for tips on how to increase self-motivation at work, we’ve outlined seven strategies that can help you take charge of your time and energy. Let’s dive in and explore how you can create a workday that’s not just productive but also rewarding.

1) Set Better Goals

Goals create a clear picture of what success looks like. So, if you want to increase your motivation, start by setting goals that matter to you.

As an experienced Brisbane business mentor, we’ve proven that the most effective goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. Without clear deadlines and tangible outcomes, what you have is just ideas. What you want is actionable steps toward your ideal future that will keep you emotionally invested in the process.

Without a well-defined goal, it’s easy to lose momentum or get distracted. In contrast, when you’re clear about what you want to achieve, it brings focus and excitement to your work. So, take the time to map out where you want to go. Set measurable milestones, and let those goals guide your focus each day.

2) Be Intentional

Being intentional starts with planning your day in a way that reflects your priorities. Structure your time around meaningful activities that produce real results.

When you are results-driven, it’s easier to maintain your motivation because the connection between your actions and the outcomes is clear. Each small win builds on the last, giving you the momentum to keep pushing forward.

3) Trim Your To-Do List

Feeling unmotivated often stems from having too much on your plate. A very long to-do list can make you feel overwhelmed, and it often leads to procrastination. That’s why one of the simplest ways to reignite your motivation is by trimming that list down to a handful of meaningful tasks that genuinely excite and inspire you. We’ve seen how focusing on fewer, high-impact activities can transform the way people approach their day.

When you spend more time working on tasks that align with your strengths and interests, you naturally feel more energised and engaged. On the flip side, if your day is dominated by putting out fires or slogging through work that doesn’t inspire you, it’s easy for motivation to slip away.
Cut down your to-do list to just three essential tasks each day. Ask yourself:

which activities will move the needle and bring you closer to your goals?

By reducing your to-do list and prioritising tasks that energise you, you’re not just simplifying your workload—you’re making space for the things that truly matter and building positive momentum.

4) Track Your Progress

Tracking progress can be a motivator in itself. It reminds you that your efforts matter and that every step forward counts.

When you can measure improvements—whether it’s hitting a financial milestone or reaching a new level in your health journey—it reinforces the value of your effort. Seeing those results creates a sense of accomplishment, which is one of the most effective ways to stay motivated.

In addition, every day is no longer just about the destination. The journey itself becomes energising. So, celebrate how far you’ve come, and use that energy to fuel your next move forward.

One of the best ways to track progress is by measuring backward from where you started and recognising small wins that might otherwise go unnoticed. By focusing on how much you’ve already achieved rather than how far you still have to go, you keep the emphasis on growth.

5) Stop Comparing Yourself

Comparing yourself to others can be a quick way to lose motivation. It’s easy to feel discouraged when you measure your progress against someone else’s journey. The reality is their circumstances, strengths, and goals most likely differ from yours.

If you want to stay motivated, focus on your unique path and trust the process that you’ve created for yourself. When progress feels slow or unsatisfying, step back and take a moment to reflect on what you’ve achieved so far. Looking at your progress with fresh eyes helps shift your mindset from frustration to gratitude. This clarity allows you to feel more positive and motivated to keep moving forward.

Staying on track requires tuning out distractions, including comparisons that pull you away from your goals. Instead of letting external influences guide your thoughts and actions, reconnect with your purpose.

6) Express Gratitude

If you’re feeling stuck or unmotivated, we encourage you to pause and reflect on the positives around you. Remind yourself of your strengths and the progress you’ve already made. By identifying even small wins, you can shift your mindset and replace doubt with determination.

We’ve also seen how gratitude can pave the way for bigger goals. When you recognise what you’ve already accomplished, you naturally develop the motivation to reach for more. So, make gratitude a daily habit to stay grounded in positivity and purpose.

7) Celebrate Progress

Success feeds motivation, and recognising it creates a powerful loop that keeps you engaged. However, when we fail to recognise our progress, our motivation can wane.

Too often, we fall into the habit of letting our days blur, which can make us feel stuck in a repetitive cycle. It can make even significant wins feel like just another item checked off the list. By celebrating your progress and success, you boost your drive to keep moving forward.

Celebration doesn’t have to be grand to be meaningful. A kind word, a small reward, or even a personal moment of reflection can renew your sense of purpose. In our Brisbane executive business coaching practice, we’ve seen how powerful this strategy can be. It creates momentum and reminds us that even small steps are worth recognising.

If you’re feeling unmotivated, start by identifying three things you accomplished today, no matter how small. Celebrate these wins to shift your focus from what’s not yet done to what you’ve already achieved.

Increase Your Motivation and Energy

Improving your motivation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start with one of these seven strategies to increase motivation. When you spend more time doing what you love and align your actions with your purpose, motivation becomes a natural part of your day.

Serving as a Brisbane business consultant for years, we have seen how these strategies can energise and excite teams and individuals alike. Taking charge of your motivation means creating the clarity, focus, and mindset needed to achieve what matters most. The more intentional you are with your energy, the more progress you’ll make and the more motivated you’ll feel every day.