How to stay motivated when everything in your life seems to go wrong

Here at Dicas de Mulher, we always try to pass on positive messages and ways to make your life easier. Despite trying to focus on the positive, we know that it’s not always possible to stay up.

Everyday obstacles are unforgiving, and sometimes they come all at once, causing you to lose hope.

At these times, it is very difficult to maintain the motivation to get out of bed and go about your daily tasks.

But calm down: life is not over. As long as you’re breathing, there’s still the strength to start over and put everything in place.

If you are going through a difficult period in your life, take a look at the tips we prepared to help you face this phase.

1. Surround yourself with positivity

It’s hard to stay positive if everyone around you is pessimistic all the time. Sooner or later bad moods are contagious, so it’s better to avoid toxic company.

Try to surround yourself with people who really add something good to your life and who also aspire to good things for themselves. If your friends don’t cultivate dreams and ambitions, you’ll likely end up abandoning yours too.

2. Change your mental attitude

This is not an easy task, but with persistence, it will work. If you keep repeating to yourself that you won’t be able to do something, you will hardly succeed, because your mind is already set for failure.

Try to change your mental attitude: look in the mirror, smile and say that, despite everything, you are very capable of overcoming any challenge.

3. Have a plan

Maybe you don’t know exactly what you want to be doing 5 or 10 years from now, but it’s important to know what direction you want to take your life in.

Having a bigger, long-term goal in mind can help you overcome the occasional day-to-day obstacles, keeping your focus on what you really want.

4. Be grateful for what you have

It’s impossible to stay positive and motivated if you only focus on the things that aren’t going so well in your life. Therefore, it is necessary to change the way of thinking. If there’s something you’re not happy about, try to find ways to change that situation.

In addition, it is essential that you give thanks for the good around you, even if it’s small things like a good coffee, a delicious dessert or a laugh with friends. Be grateful for what you have in the present.

5. Make a list of goals

Making a list of your dreams and goals will make your goals more tangible, giving you more strength and courage to face difficult times.

Once a month, add at least one new item to your list, whether it’s related to your personal or professional life. Take the list with you or keep it somewhere you can always see it, so you can always remember why it’s worth fighting a little harder.

6. Money is not everything in life

If your only motivation to work hard is to make money, then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. Of course, having money to pay your bills is essential, and it’s even better when you have enough left over each month, but the financial reward shouldn’t be the only force that keeps you going.

Don’t sacrifice your health, your happiness and your career plans for a job that will momentarily pay you more. Believe in your dreams, even if other people tell you to go the other way.

7. Give yourself a gift

One of the keys to maintaining motivation is giving yourself rewards from time to time. If you’ve had a rough day, stressed out at work, had a fight with your boyfriend, or got hurt with a friend, try to take some time for yourself.

Have a special coffee, light a scented candle, watch an episode of your favorite series or take a long and relaxing bath, because you need special care. These are small attitudes that help us get our heads together and move on.

In addition to following these tips, try to keep in mind that life is full of ups and downs. No matter how hard you try, not everything will be under your control, and things may be different than you imagined. Take it easy: this too shall pass.