8 Ways to Stay Motivated

Chances are it will take years to make your financial dreams a reality. What will you do in the meantime, when things go wrong or you just have a bad day? Here are a few ways to keep yourself excited about the journey.

1. Remind yourself of your goals every day.

Remember not just the goals, but what’s behind them—your family, your happiness, your hobbies, and everything else that makes you glad to wake up each day.

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     Write a quick note to remind yourself, and put it somewhere obvious.
     Put a tangible reminder—a picture or souvenir—on your desk or in your wallet.

2. Imagine the possibilities.

Don’t disregard a goal simply because it seems unrealistic. You never know when something will drop in your lap that could help move you closer to your goals.

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     Take 15 minutes to daydream about your future, without limiting your thoughts.
     Keep a journal handy. When thoughts about your future occur to you, jot them down. (It’s          surprisingly easy to forget even these important things.)

3. Celebrate every success.

You know what they say about all work and no play. It’s absolutely true. The efforts you’ve put into meeting your goals definitely deserve a reward.

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     Decide in advance three ways you’ll reward your successes. Give yourself time to look          forward to them.

4. Use the buddy system.

Meeting a goal that you care about feels fantastic, and most days you’ll be glad you’re making the effort. Other days, you might feel less enthused . That’s when a friend or loved one in whom you’ve confided can step in and help keep you on track.

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    Share your goals of getting out of debt with someone you’re close to, and ask them to         encourage you if you get in a rough patch.

5. Make sure they’re your goals, and embrace them.

What works for someone else might not be right for you. It might be hard to identify what you want most out of life (especially with the stress of the everyday crowding in), but if you can accomplish that, the motivation will come easily.

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     Find a quiet place, grab a cup of tea, and shut out the world while you pick through the          goals you’ve been planning on.
     If you decide to tweak them, write your ideas down somewhere you won’t forget them.

6. Enlist the support of your family.

Chances are they’re central to your goals, so it makes sense that you’d ask for their help in this effort. For your spouse and kids that might mean helping you save extra money each month. Knowing that your family has your back can be a great encouragement.

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     Share the list of your goals with the family, and talk about ways they can pitch in.
     Keep the conversation going. You never know when or where a great idea will come from.

7. Don’t compare yourself to others.

Even if it looks like their goals are just like yours, chances are there’s something in their life that is very different. Their resources, their other goals, their family life... Comparing yourself might feel inspiring at first, but in the end it could just make you feel bad about where you’re at.

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     Take a minute to remember—again—what’s at the heart of your goals.
     Think ahead about how you’ll respond if someone tries to compare you.

8. Expect obstacles.

Every road has its bumps. Plan ahead for them, and you’ll do just fine.

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     List out five things that could sabotage your progress.
     For each of those five things, list three things you can do to keep yourself on track.

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