We’re taking a look at some of the best ways that Alexa can be there for you when you need an extra boost of motivation.
1. Create a Library of Motivational Quotes With a Blueprint
You can find this Blueprint by tapping More in the Alexa app (available for iOS and Android), then See More and Blueprints. Navigate to the Fun tab, and select Inspirations. After you tap Make Your Own, you’ll be able to add as many motivational quotes as you see fit. If you’re drawing blanks, check out Brainy Quote’s list of inspirational quotes.
Once you’ve named the skill, you can simply say, “Alexa, open (name of skill).” Alexa will then randomly select one of your quotes and read it aloud.
2. Play Some Energetic Music
If you’ve been using your Echo for a while, you’re probably aware that you can link your favorite music streaming service with Alexa for voice-activated audio. But if you’re looking to pump a bit more energy into your daily routine, it’s easy to start playing some upbeat music right away, even without a streaming service connected.
If you’re subscribed to Spotify, the playlists Motivation Mix or Morning Motivation are two excellent selections. Both are filled with songs that’ll immediately put a skip in your step. To play these playlists, just say, “Alexa, play Motivation Mix on Spotify.”
3. Play a Motivational Podcast
The School of Greatness: Lewis Howes interviews influential people and, using their experiences and his own, leads you to believe anything is possible through inspiring stories. Happier With Gretchen Rubin: Bestselling author of The Happiness Project Gretchen Rubin shares some of her best advice on how to gain a new perspective and become a happier person. TED Talks Daily: The TED Talks Daily podcast relays what some of the world’s brightest minds are thinking in less than half an hour, focusing on extraordinary insights from extraordinary thinkers that are sure to uplift you. The Tim Ferriss Show: Like The School of Greatness, Tim Ferriss interviews some of the most fascinating leaders in their respective fields. Tim places emphasis on deconstructing exactly how these world-class performers operate and will give you all the tools you need to find success. The Minimalists Podcast: If you’re becoming overwhelmed with the abundance of daily life, then you might find the contrarian approach of The Minimalists a valuable tool. Become motivated to declutter your home and your mind with this fantastic podcast.
To play any of these podcasts, say, “Alexa, play (podcast name),” and Alexa will start the podcast using your default streaming service.
4. Use Lists, Reminders, Alarms, and Timers to Stay on Track
With the pressures of daily life, it’s become increasingly difficult to organize your life in a simple fashion. There are so many areas, so many things that we need to keep track of, that without using some kind of tool, it becomes overwhelming and demotivating. Luckily, there are a few built-in Alexa features that can give us a helping hand.
Lists
Alexa has a To-Do list by default, but you can also create lists for whatever you like. Now, instead of trying to juggle all of your tasks, you just ask Alexa to add it to your list and revisit it later.
Reminders
If you need a reminder to do something at a particular time, the Reminders feature can do just that. You can ask Alexa to remind you of something and tell it when you want to be notified. Alexa will then announce your reminder and send a notification to your phone when it’s time.
Alarms
Some of us are bad at time management, no matter how hard we try. That’s where the Alarms feature comes in. You can ask Alexa to set an alarm to notify you of when a task should be completed by, for example. This will push you to be productive instead of spending unlimited time on a task.
Timers
Lastly, Timers can be used similarly to Alarms by giving yourself a deadline. But, Timers can also be used with the famous Pomodoro technique, where you work in bursts to keep yourself motivated. If you’d like to learn more about this productivity hack, check out our article on the Pomodoro technique.
Need a little more guidance on getting started with these features? We run through each of them in our look at how to use Alexa as your personal planner.
5. Install Inspirational Quote Skills
There are also a few skills that can motivate you by giving you a handpicked selection of quotes from some of history’s most prominent figures. Let’s take a look at three of them.
Motivate Me
The Motivate Me skill is simple to use and immediately plays a quote from figures like Benjamin Franklin, Tony Robbins, and Aristotle when you say, “Alexa, Motivate Me.” It’ll play a random quote, then ask if you’d like another. The process can be repeated infinitely until you’ve got all the motivation that you need.
Inspire Me
Inspire Me plays real clips taken from speeches and interviews, capturing the essence of their tone and delivery. The skill has plenty of powerful features, like searching for quotes from specific speakers or about particular topics. If you upgrade to Inspire Me Premium, you can even save your favorite clips for easy access.
Motivational Quote of the Day
If one quote is enough to prepare you for the day ahead, then the Motivational Quote of the Day is the skill for you. There’s a single quote, read by a human and not Alexa’s voice. The quote is handpicked and changes daily, so you don’t need to worry about repetition.
Become Unstoppable With Help From Alexa
While staying motivated is not always easy, especially in the long run, using these five Alexa features will undoubtedly help.
If you’re feeling a little drained or disheartened today, why not ask Alexa to play some high-tempo music or listen to a few inspirational quotes to get you in the zone?
