“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” While this Zig Ziglar quote is somewhat humorous, it also rings true about what it takes to maintain a motivated attitude every single day.

Only 13 percent of all people (globally!) feel motivated and happy to go to work in the morning. On a personal level, 93 percent of people set goals and resolutions every New Year’s Eve. Only eight percent of these people, however, have the will to go through and pursue change.

So why is finding motivation so difficult? The answer is simple – it requires a proactive and conscious effort on your behalf.

The good news is that a few simple steps can help you go a long way. Here are a few of the basics to master in order to maintain steady motivation levels every single day of your life.

Meet New People That Excite You

It may be time to purge toxic people from your life. If you feel down all the time, you will first have to take a look at your surroundings.

Chances are that some of the people who have been in your life for a long time are already going their separate ways. You may have to look for new friends and partners who have a similar attitude, goals and beliefs.

Start Dating

Dating and finding a special someone can restore your motivation levels. Have you been single for a while? The time is right to get back out there and see what the world of romance has to offer. Online dating is a great choice if you feel hesitant about meeting new people in the real world.

Find People Who Have Similar Interests

To regain your motivation for pursuing your dreams in life, you will have to find people sharing the same interests as you. Internet has made it simple to connect with such people and to eventually bring the relationships to your everyday existence. Interest groups, specialized websites and forums await you.

Stop Working So Hard

Working all the time is the best way to feel down. Long work weeks are related to certain health risks, depression, increased alcohol/tobacco consumption and not surprisingly – a reduction in productivity.

Give yourself a chance to relax and do pleasant things for at least an hour per day. These pleasant things could include:

• Listening to music or even going to a concert
• Exercising
• Engaging in some form of art you like
• Meditating
• Sleeping
• Spending quality time with the people you love
• Walking in nature

If you give your brain the chance to slow down and even turn itself off, you’ll find yourself invigorated the moment you return to the task at hand.

Let Go of What You Can’t Change

Many people believe this is a turning point in their life. They feel incredibly liberated when they realize that they can’t control every single aspect of their existence and that’s ok.

Let go of the things that you simply can’t change. Accept life and all of the hurdles it throws your way. Adapt to deal with the circumstances and if you cannot address a specific problem, find your plan B.

When you accept your weaknesses and the fact that you’re not omnipotent, you can concentrate on the things you can do to really improve your life. These changes will bring positivity, which will inevitably restore your motivation.

Learn from Your Mistakes

Your effort is never wasted, even if the results are disappointing.

Regardless of our best intentions, we will all face a few fiascos in our life. Instead of feeling down about them, however, you should perceive these utter failures as learning opportunities.

Why did you fail? What could you have done differently? Is there something you’re never bound to repeat in your life? Has your attitude and your goal shifted? If you can answer these questions in the aftermath of a failure, you will soon see your motivation returning.

Don’t push yourself too hard and refrain from blaming yourself. Living in the past is far from productive. You can’t change what has already happened but you can work towards a more meaningful existence in the future. Know that you have a second chance and you will certainly discover the motivation to keep moving forward.