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One of the most common reasons why people lack the motivation to complete a particular task is because the task is not fun. Without this intrinsic motivation, people can be easily distracted or persuaded to do something else more enjoyable. Have you ever put off cleaning the bathroom to watch TV instead?

One way to motivate yourself to complete undesirable tasks is to find some way to make them fun. Sometimes it will be difficult to make things enjoyable, but if you have a little brainstorm, you can probably figure something out.

For example, to make cleaning the bathroom fun, you could:
1) Play some music and coordinate all your movements to the beat of the tune.
2) Set a timer and race against the last time you cleaned the bathroom. Try to be as efficient as possible.
3) Multitasking! Try to clean two things at once using both hands.
4) Pretend that you are fighting a war against a tiny dirt army. Your sponge is a bomber. Make airplane sounds.
5) Strap sponges to your feet and clean the tub without your hands.

Yeah, some of these may sound silly, but if you let your inner child out and have some fun, you may find that the task is easer to do.

in-cul-cate

verb :: To teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions; to urge on the mind.

"Lastly, I have endeavoured strongly to inculcate, that virtue and innocence can scarce ever be injured but by indiscretion; and that it is this alone which often betrays them into the snares that deceit and villainy spread for them." --Fielding, Henry

One way to remember a list of objects (like a grocery list) is to visualize each item in a particular place in your house.

For example, you may visualize the broccoli on your nightstand, the tomatoes in the sink, and the apples on the couch. When you need to remember the grocery list, picture yourself walking through the house and seeing all the objects in their unusual places.

Making associations like this will give your memory something to grab onto. It's much easier to remember tomatoes in your sink than it is to just remember tomatoes!

The mind is very receptive to suggestions. If you repeat to yourself that you feel stressed out and uncreative, then you are going to be stressed out and uncreative. If you tell yourself that you are calm, creative and full of energy, then you will feel and perform better in your daily life.

An affirmation is a carefully crafted statement that you repeat over and over to yourself as a form of auto-suggestion. Affirmations can be a powerful way to reprogram the subconscious and become self-fulfilling. The key to crafting an effective affirmation is to make it appeal to your imagination. Imagination usually trumps intellect and common sense. For example, you probably don't have any problem walking in a straight line without falling down, but if you place a plank of wood over a pit of hungry alligators, you might think twice about walking across. Your imagination takes over and prevents you from performing the simple task.

To make an effective affirmation, choose words that are simple, positive and to the point. Avoid statements of fact that your intellect might reject. For example, a bad affirmation might be, "I am the most creative person in my company." A better affirmation would be, "I am confident in my ability to think creatively."