Daily ways to build and inspire yourself and others

We all have days when we don't feel like doing anything. Mentally and physically we are exhausted. It's hard to get out of bed in the morning. And, it's a challenge just to get out of bed, let alone seize the day.

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Even though we wish we could stay in bed all day, we can't. So when you're feeling uninspired, you can overcome that emotional hurdle with these 20 daily techniques.

1. Don't wait for inspiration to hit you.

"Inspiration is for amateurs," said painter and photographer Chuck Close. "The rest of us show up and get to work."

"If you're sitting around trying to come up with a great artistic idea, you can sit around for a long time before anything happens," he explains. "But if you just got down to business, something will come to mind, and something else will come to mind, and something else that you're rejecting will push you in another direction."

Instead of wasting your time and energy waiting to be inspired, harness the power of a daily routine. And that's actually something that successful creatives and entrepreneurs have known for a long time. William James, the famous psychologist, once said that habits and schedules are necessary because they "free our minds to move on to really interesting areas of action".

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to planning your diary, here are some tips to get you started:

Allow time for planning. For example, each evening, create and revise your schedule for tomorrow. Start your day with a morning ritual. Some ideas would be journaling, exercise, meditation, or reading. Time blocks your calendar. Set specific hours for specific tasks throughout the day. Designate a "most important task". Always include the one absolute task that needs to be done for the day. Harness the power of breaks. Breaks are necessary to help you refresh and recharge. Give names to time slots and downtimes. This ensures that you use this time wisely, such as "Tuesday morning 15 min walk break," Be flexible. Even if you're consistent, the unexpected always lingers around the corner. Leave empty spaces to respond to unforeseen events. 2. Connect to your values.

"It's the ultimate secret," notes the author and chief innovation officer at Microsoft

J. D.Meier. "If you can connect the work you do to your values, even in small ways, you can change your game."

It is important for J.D. Meier to learn and grow as a person, a worthy goal for all.

“I find ways to develop my skills in any situation,” he adds. For example, he just doesn't "recall a customer". Instead, it aims to "win a raving fan". He doesn't just "do a task". Instead, it's a chance to "master my craft." And it's more than "doing something". It's more of an opportunity to "learn something new".

3. Add your goal to your calendar.

Did you know you can boost your internal motivation by setting a target date? It's true.

As such, whatever your goal, plan for it. If you're working towards a goal, you might have a deadline. For example, the preparation of a meeting presentation or the date of submission of a project.

By setting a realistic timeframe, you can structure your goal. Target dates also help you stay motivated. And, when added to your calendar, it lets you track your progress. Therefore, you always know how far you have to go.

Also, once you've established your goals, share them with someone else, like a mentor.

You are more motivated if you share your goal with someone higher up, because just caring about what they think of you makes you accountable. For instance,...