5 Ways to Motivate Yourself Part 3

3. Think habits, not motivation

Getting yourself to do something again and again by sheer force of will is extremely difficult. Getting yourself to do something by force of habit is easier. "Because motivation/willpower is a limited resource, it has helped me to instead build habits which, once instilled, don't use willpower," explains entrepreneur Bud Hennekes. "Start with small habits that help you be more productive and make you feel good. For example, you could aim to walk 15 minutes a day or work in short bursts of intense focus."

Entrepreneur James Clear has endorsed this advice on Inc.com, though he frames it a bit differently. Rather than habits, he talks about the power of "schedules," but whichever term you use, the effect is the same--automating a behavior by integrating it into your routine means you rely less on willpower.