As a leader, it’s easy to get lost in the midst of adversity. When you’re facing tough times, it can be hard to stay motivated and focused on your goals. That’s why it’s important to have a plan for staying motivated during difficult times. Follow these 7 steps to stay motivated and focused when the going gets tough.

Take a break

Step back and take a few minutes to breathe, meditate or do something else that calms you down. This can help center yourself so you stay focused on your goals. When life gets busy, it’s easy to lose perspective, but taking time for yourself can keep you from burning out.

Accept the situation

Admitting that you’re facing adversity is the first step towards moving past it. When you acknowledge your difficulties, you can move forward with your plan for how to stay motivated until they’re over. If the adversity is something outside of your control (such as a natural disaster), then take this advice into consideration and stay prepared for when the situation changes.

Reach out to others for support

Reach out to your most trusted friends and family members when you need a boost in morale. Hearing about their challenges can help put yours into perspective, and knowing they care about you can be a major source of motivation when things get tough.

Do something fun

Figure out a way to have some fun in your life during adversity. Whether you go out with friends, take a break from your routine or try something new, it’s important to stay positive and have something to look forward to.

Practice gratitude

Take time each day to focus on what you’re grateful for. When times are tough, this can help you stay positive and hopeful about the future. When you’re going through adversity, it’s easy to focus on what’s going wrong. Instead of wasting time worrying about these things, spend a few minutes each day thinking about what you’re grateful for instead.

Get physical

Adversity can be a great excuse to start a new workout plan. This can be a great source of motivation during tough times, and it has the added benefit of improving your mood as well. You don’t have to work up a sweat at the gym every day either. Even taking a walk around your neighborhood can help you stay motivated and stay physically fit as well.

Find a new project or activity

Figure out a way to stay busy once adversity is over. Spending time focusing on something that you enjoy or that excites you is a good way to stay preoccupied so you stay focused on your goals instead of dwelling on your difficulties. Sometimes with too much free time our mind tends to dwell on worrying. Finding a positive outlet for our energy is a good way to stay motivated. This might be a new project at work, as an after-school activity or as something you do for fun.

Download a free copy of our infographic with these important reminders! Feel free to download it and share it with other leaders who are going through a difficult time.

Keep Going!

No matter what happens, you have to keep going. There is no other option. You can’t give up, because that’s the surest way to fail. If you’re a leader in the midst of adversity and are feeling like everything has gone wrong and your head is about to explode with all the stress, you can use these 7 steps to help shift your perspective, take a step back from the chaos, and get moving again!

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Note: The free infographic is designed to help people who are going through a difficult time and is not intended to be used as guidance for people with serious mental health issues. If you need additional help dealing with a crisis, please seek assistance from a health professional.