Jumpstarting your work routine can be difficult if you don’t get a little extra nudge. Even if you know you have something you need to do, if you don’t have a reminder, it’s easy to lose track and end up not doing it. How do you motivate yourself to finish work or that big project that’s been waiting in the wings?

I’ve struggled with my willpower at times. Luckily, I’ve come up with a few basic ideas that have changed the way I work. It made it easier for me to finish these tasks. Here’s what I do when I’m not motivated but need to finish something!

Create a to-do list

You can’t go wrong with listing down the things you need to accomplish in a day. Jot them down on a colorful piece of paper. Post it where you can see it.  You can also use a pre-made list sheet where you can just fill in spaces.

Then, cross out tasks as you get things done. Even if you have zero energy to get it done, you’ll get a little strength from each item that gets crossed off and gets accomplished. It’s a great way to remind yourself to do at least certain things in a day!

Get Things Done Reward yourself

There’s a reason why you can lose track of time playing games – your character gets rewards every time you accomplish tasks! “Gamify” your day and give yourself small, effective rewards whenever you finish something.

Maybe it’s a cup of cocoa after washing the dishes. A movie night after you finished paying off all the bills. By creating an effective reward system, you can push yourself to complete work, even if you have absolutely no drive.

Think of things as goals and not chores

Jumpstarting your work routine by Adjusting your mindset is a big key to completing your daily to-dos. When you think of what you need to finish, stop calling it a “chore” – this is a word we associate with tiring, boring and unrewarding work that we hate doing. Simply call them “goals”.

With your goals, make concrete ideas of what you want to finish. Don’t just write “clean up the room”, when you can write “tidy the bed, desk, and closet”. By being more specific, you set a definite end to the goal – making it easier to push yourself past the finish line.

Put on some music

Cliché, I know – but putting on some music helps me lose myself in a mindless task that I hate doing, like folding the laundry. This is especially helpful for repetitive tasks, so make yourself a playlist that you can keep on loop while you finish something.

Get some positive influences

Sharing what you’ve been able to accomplish in a day and getting encouragement for it will make it more likely for you to keep going. Humans are social creatures by nature. So, don’t be afraid to share what you want to finish with your friends and ask for (and share) insights and advice!

You’re much more likely to finish something if you feel like you’re not alone in it. It will also help boost your flagging motivation.

Motivation isn’t something you can sustain all the time. So, when you recognize that it’s not at a good level for finishing your goals for the day, go back to these tips and build it up again to get things done! With a little help, you can get the ball rolling and be more productive.