This is part 2 of a 3-part series on peaceful motivation.
If you prefer video, you can watch Pace Explains peaceful motivation: part 1, part 2

Peaceful motivation is about getting things done without forcing yourself to do them. All carrot, no stick.

There are three steps to peaceful motivation: Taste, Energy, and Environment. Once you have all three, achieving your goals will happen peacefully and naturally.

Taste (step 1) gives you inspiration. But if you’re inspired and sleepy, or inspired and just feeling like a lump today, you won’t get up and do anything about it. Because all the inspiration in the world isn’t worth a whit if you don’t have…

Step 2: Energy.

Energy is simply the physical oomph needed by your body and your brain to accomplish your goals.

Why energy is so important

A lot of advice on motivation boils down to getting around your mental blocks, your resistance. That’s important – but it’s also important to consider your body.

Perhaps your mind is totally fine and unblocked, but your brain simply doesn’t have enough energy!

Perhaps you could find your motivation by simply going for a walk instead of processing your childhood trauma.

How could you have more energy more often?

Perhaps you could…

• go for a walk
• change what you eat
• change when you eat, or how much
• start your day with a green smoothie
• exercise more often
• exercise more strenuously – maybe you’re not really getting your blood pumping and your energy up?
• exercise less strenuously – maybe you’re using up all your energy during your workout, and there’s not enough left afterward?
• exercise at different times of the day, like when you notice yourself feeling low-energy
• get more sleep
• get less sleep (this actually sometimes helps, depending on the length of your sleep cycles)
• wake up with a sleep cycle alarm clock
• work at a standing desk or treadmill desk instead of a sit-down desk
• have your hormone, thyroid, or adrenal levels checked
• find your peak creative times and take advantage of the energy you’re already feeling

(Of course, consult a physician before making any major changes.)

Journal and experiment

Start keeping a daily journal of when you feel high-energy and when you feel low-energy. See if you notice any patterns.

Pick one of the above ideas to experiment with – or come up with your own – and give it a try.

Do your energy levels increase? Decrease? Shift to different times of the day? Memory is unreliable, but your journal will tell you the truth.

If you like the changes, stick with ’em! Otherwise, try something else. Figuring out what works for you is a process of trial and error.

What energy-increasing idea will you try first?