Practical Ways To Motivate Yourself To Learn A Skill

One way to motivate yourself to work hard at anything is to risk wasting your money if you fail to put in the necessary effort.

When Charles Simeon, the great preacher and theologian, was at Cambridge, he promised himself that if he failed to get up at 6 a.m. he would throw one golden guinea into the River Cam.

One morning he had to make his way to a bridge over the river and throw in one very valuable golden guinea. He only had to do this once before he established the habit of getting up at 6.

The thought of throwing away your money is a powerful motivator! Pay for lessons in whatever skill you want to learn. You won't want to waste your money.

Personal trainers can teach you something about how to improve your physical condition but their main value lies in the fact that, if you don't do what they tell you to do, you will be wasting your money.

I regularly have lessons with a local computer maintenance expert and local web designer. They both visit my house so that I don't have to motivate myself to get in the car and travel to some distant learning center! We can also work directly on my computer.

For one hour I focus my whole attention on working with my computer expert. I have the motivation of working with another human being. It would be rude to doze off or watch a TV program.

I also have the motivation of making good use of the money I am paying him to teach me some very useful skills.

I work with my web designer for two hours at a time and, whether I feel like doing web design or not, I am motivated by his presence to get on with it. I also want to avoid wasting the money I am paying him.

These regular sessions usually inspire me to do more work on computer and web design skills in the rest of the week. They also allow me to make far better use of my computer and websites. All this encourages me to learn more.

When you are working on your own, you can vary the length of your work sessions to suit yourself. One hour is too long for some. Psychologists tell us that 20 minutes is the optimum length of time for taking in new facts and ideas.

So try working on one project for twenty minutes and then taking a small break before working on the same project for another twenty minutes or working on a different project for twenty minutes.

The advantage of working on the same project for consecutive twenty minute sessions is that you have all the materials for that project easily available and the project is fresh in your mind.

The advantage of working on another project is that the mind is invigorated by focusing on a new topic. Also the fact that you have only 20 minutes in which to make progress gives you a motivating deadline and challenge.

You start thinking "I have only 20 minutes available. I had better get a move on."

After a couple of hours work it is worth doing something physical like taking a short walk or doing some exercises. When you return to work you will feel ready to concentrate and make progress.

It also helps to map out your study schedule the night before and write it down so that your subconscious mind is tuned in to your plans and will help you achieve them.

So don't be afraid of spending your money on training by a local expert and don't hesitate to experiment with the length of your skill learning sessions. Try single 20 minutes sessions on different skills or try several 20 minute sessions on just one skill. Write out your plans the night before and let your subconscious mind do some of the work.

Finally, visualize yourself having mastered the skill you are working at. See yourself confidently creating websites and turning them into awesome cash machines or communication centers. See yourself explaining to your friends how to do what you have already done.

Or visualize yourself performing those dance steps, which you have been learning, in front of a circle of admiring fans. See yourself singing with feeling and power and touching the hearts of those who are listening to you in rapt admiration even if, to begin with, your family is your only audience.

About the author

John Watson is an award winning teacher and martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams.

They can both be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a daily motivational message.

The title of the first book is "36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now! - Acronyms, Stories, And Pictures...Easy To Remember And Use Everyday To Grab Your Life And Soar With The Eagles"

The book can be found at this URL http://www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php

The book uses acronyms, stories and pictures to help readers remember 36 laws that can gradually transform your life if you apply them.

You are welcome to publish the article above in your ezine or on your website so long as you do not alter it and keep in the words about the author and the 36 Laws.

---

Mindfulness and Birthdays: Surprising Moments

The first week of May is a big birthday time... Read More

Discover Your Purpose In Life

Everyone has a life purpose; a unique and special something... Read More

10 Ways to Overcome Procrastination: The Challenge for Tomorrow!

Did you realize that as much as 47% of the... Read More

REST: The New Strategy for Business and Life Success

No matter how many times you have vowed to change... Read More

10 Easy Ways To Stop Procrastinating

It is counterproductive to concentrate on so many tasks that... Read More

Motivation: The Cure for Complacency

Q. I've always tried to work hard enough to provide... Read More

Ten Tips to Create More Life for Your Life

When people begin to investigate career change, often they don't... Read More

What Being Vs Doing Really Means

So often we hear about "being" rather than "doing." Often... Read More

The Reason Nothing Happens - Is Because Nothing Is Happening!

I hear many clients declare how boring and stagnant their... Read More

5 Great Ways To Overcome Procrastination At Home

If you procrastinate at home you may suffer some consequences... Read More

7 Key Steps to Unshakable Confidence

Do you remember that day? Perhaps it was your first... Read More

Procrastination: Make It Work FOR You!

Man, I love to procrastinate! And I'm pretty darn good... Read More

Discover How to Stay Motivated and Be Successful

If you surveyed 50 people asking each their definition of... Read More

Change Your Life, Release Fear, and Create What you Really Want

Do you have a dream? Or do you just have... Read More

Two Months, Two Actions: First Steps to Success

Susan stood on the scale the other day. She had... Read More

7 Reasons To Stop Procrastinating Today

Procrastination is a delay tactic that has the ability to... Read More

The IDEAL Problem Solver

The IDEAL Problem Solver is an effective tool you can... Read More

Action vs. Self Delusion

Knowledge fueled by emotion equals action. Action is the ingredient... Read More

Creating Your Best Year Ever

January is synonymous with resolutions and getting organized is high... Read More

Mountain-Moving Momentum

It can be challenging to think about going to the... Read More

7 Hot Tips for Self Improvement Part 1

Have you ever imagined that life could be a lot... Read More

Is Work Still Necessary?

I have a confession to make - several confessions in... Read More

Mastering the Problem of Everyday Living

People are unhappy and defeated by their everyday problems that... Read More

Why Holding A Vision Magnetizes Great Achievement

The only reason some people enjoy success while others fail... Read More

Develop Guts to Achieve Glory

It is just amazing the amount of people who don't... Read More

What Comes First the Action or the Feeling?

In other words, it is in the "doing" that we... Read More

Have You Ever Not Done Something Because Someone Said You Couldnt?

"Every truly great accomplishment is at first impossible." It's a... Read More

The Top Five Great Reasons to Delay Pursuing Your Dream

1.2.3.4.5.Well, to be frank, there are no great reasons to... Read More

Motivation - How to Design a Life

"Have you ever felt like you've become the worst possible... Read More

A Woman?s Road To True Beauty

We live in a world where society dictates the norm.... Read More

If You Dont Ask You Are Rejected, 7 Steps to Overcome that Fear of Rejection

If You Don't ask then You are Already Rejected. Many... Read More

Perseverance As A Virtue

"Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed... Read More

The Art Of Using Effectively A Motivational Quote

--Choose a motivational quote related to your goal. Don't have... Read More