How to Stay Motivated

by Shriya Ganesh, 2024–2025 Miss CEO Ambassador

There are so many days when pushing forward just feels impossible. The setbacks pile up, progress slows down and the motivation that you used to have starts to flicker and disappear. The truth is, though, that staying motivated isn’t about never struggling. It’s about knowing how to keep going when everything feels heavy and almost impossible. When hard times hit, the right mindset and habits can make every difference. Even just taking a day or two break can be what you need.

The first step is to shift your mindset. Challenges aren’t roadblocks, they’re growth opportunities. Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?”, try asking “What can I learn from this?” It makes a huge difference!

And, remember to be kind to yourself! We’re often our own worst critics, but during tough times, treat yourself like you would a friend — with patience and encouragement.

Most importantly, focus on what you can control. You can’t change every situation, but you can control YOUR actions, YOUR emotions, and YOUR reactions. Let go of what’s out of your hands and take small, intentional steps forward. Even tiny progress builds momentum!

If you’re stuck in a rut, feeling unmotivated and unable to get out, and aside from shifting mindsets, it’s probably time to change your routine. Adjust your goals, stay flexible, and embrace change — it might be exactly what you need to keep going.

For goal setting, set small, achievable goals. Motivation fades when progress feels out of reach, so break big tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Instead of focusing on a daunting end goal, commit to just the next step. These small and more reasonable wins can make a huge impact on your ability and motivation to move forward.

It is also super helpful to create daily habits and routines, as motivation isn’t about constant excitement: it’s about consistency. Establishing simple habits like setting priorities each morning or dedicating 15 minutes a day to a task reduces the need for willpower and builds momentum.

Remember, celebrate small wins! It’s incredibly important to acknowledge progress, no matter how minor, because this, in turn, reinforces motivation. Take time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished instead of just what’s left to do. This will help sustain energy and confidence.

Something that has helped me rediscover my passion and motivation is finding my “why”. Asking yourself “why did you start this journey?” can help with this. Keeping the bigger picture in mind can help reignite motivation.

Last but not least, sometimes, a shift in your surroundings can help refresh your mindset. Whether it’s working in a different space, changing up your routine, or surrounding yourself with motivated people, small environmental changes can make a big impact.

Hard times are literally inevitable, but it is so important to learn how to work around them so they don’t bring you down. Shifting your mindset and taking intentional actions are just a few ways to find motivation again. Progress isn’t about never struggling: it’s about never stopping.

About the author:

Shriya Ganesh is a current junior in Cupertino High School. She is a super committed and passionate teen, driven to help the community and loves to sing and spend time with her friends and family in her free time. She hopes to make an impact on our world in her own unique way, and as someone on the business track, is always finding ways to fine-hone her leadership and business skills. Most importantly, she is so excited to serve as a Miss CEO Ambassador this year!