Today I slept in. I find that when I don’t get up and get going on my work, my motivation suffers. And, in fact, I’ve been sort of petering out today — and my day’s just begun! One of the hardest things about having a home business and being responsible for your own schedule is that you have to motivate yourself. It’s really easy to just say that you can do something later. Procrastination can be a real problem.

The good news is that there are some things you can do to help keep you motivated — at least enough to power through your day. Here are some ideas for motivation when you work from home:

1. Build breaks into your schedule so that you feel as though you are getting a little refreshment. I plan a short morning break, and a longer break for lunch. It helps me feel as though I’m not just sitting at the desk all day. Plus the food gives me a little boost. Bonus points when I choose a health snack/lunch.

2. Break down your goals so that they are manageable. I like to be able to check things off my list. When I see that I am accomplishing something, it helps keep me interested in pushing forward, rather than giving up.

3. Take care of yourself with some daily exercise and rest. It’s amazing what doing a little exercise each day, and making it a point to relax at some point, can do for your mood and your motivation. You don’t have to spend hours and hours on this, but I find if I take a half hour for some exercise, as well as take some time to read a book or meditate, I feel refreshed and energized.

While money can be a motivator, I find that it isn’t always the best motivator. Indeed, sometimes it’s just about feeling better and wanting to do something.

What helps you keep your motivation level high?