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Staying Motivated While Pursuing Your Career In Early Childhood Education

You may have set your long-term goals and started on your journey. But suddenly, somewhere between your original plan and your ongoing progress, you're encountering unexpected zigzags and roadblocks. All your motivation begins to fade. Your dreams appear to be less appealing. You doubt not only your purpose but also your capacity to achieve them. The downward spiral has started...


Well, not to worry, as there are a few practices that can help! They'll assist you in grounding yourself, gathering energy, and making the journey as joyful as your original plan; these methods are tired and true.


Love yourself

Our natural desire to compare ourselves to others and society's desire for perfection can make our ambitions seem illusory. In our minds, the fear of failure looms huge, destroying our motivation to continue. But there is a way out! According to research, being kind to ourselves gives us the courage to confront our real and imagined anxieties. Putting your palm on your chest and soothing yourself with a few gentle words will help you ground yourself in the current moment, find your true identity, and halt the inner critic for good.


Break down your goals

The dopamine system plays a significant role in motivating us. When we set a goal for ourselves, we need to give ourselves a dopamine boost along the road. It's like driving without gas, reassuring ourselves that we'll be rewarded at the finish of our journey. Fortunately, even physically doing the work we set out to accomplish provides us with enough dopamine to keep us motivated and to go. Ensure the goals are easy enough that you have to travel a long way before you feel fulfilled. Be your own leader and break things down, execute them regardless of how you feel, and continue to reward yourself with variation and gusto as you go!


Make the journey exciting

When boosting your motivation, the way you think is crucial. Different individuals may have radically different reactions to the same task: some may despise it, while others may adore it. Why do you believe this occurs? It's basic as when we lose motivation, some find ways to make any activity exciting and delightful.


Like, for example, in early childhood education. Some people find being the teacher of the two-year-old class tedious, while others enjoy being in that setting for hours. Joining a school that embraces the understanding that the two-year-old class is transitional for any child is the most excellent option for people who despise teaching that age group. One way to know how to stay motivated is to believe an activity to be fun. Most tasks have a high potential for enjoyment, so finding methods to have fun while working is an excellent habit to develop.


Organize Yourself

Nothing can sap your vitality more than an excessively cluttered mind when working on a big project while pursuing your goals. Instead, please sit down and transfer the process from your thoughts to an actual organized list, or talk it out with a close friend. Then, for each work, set aside specified times to execute them. This is crucial to achieving your goals and staying motivated.


Map out your goals

Make a personal vision board to remind yourself of your objectives and to encourage yourself to stay on track. You can use artwork, drawings, or photographs from Pinterest as a computer background or to display on a bulletin board or poster board in your room. Ensure it contains your three attainable short-term objectives and your long-term creative aim.


Take breaks and celebrate your small successes

You are an amazingly talented being, and you are entitled to be treated as such. Every small victory should be celebrated with a fun activity. Allow yourself to feel alive by indulging and self-discovery! Taking breaks will allow you to feed your creative self and refill your energy.


Now that you've learned how to stay motivated in six different methods, it's time to reveal the secret to these methods: mix and match! Please choose one of the methods and put it to use in your scenario. If it doesn't work, or if you want to be more motivated, switch to a different method immediately. For the best results, combine several strategies and fit them into your task.

 
Featured Online Course

Creating Achievable S.M.A.R.T. Goals

This course will teach childcare professional’s the essential components of a SMART goal. Professionals will learn about the importance of setting achievable goals and strategies for managing personal success and goal completion.

 
Meet the Author

Sheika Petteway, Chief ENCOURAGING Officer


She provides educational and leadership training to individuals and organizations. She is the founder and CEO of Elite Educational Enterprises and has several years experience serving in the early childhood education industry.


You are invited to Recharge Early Childhood Educators Conference! September 29 & 30, 2023 Houston, Texas



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