Do you ever have those days when you just have no motivation? If
feels like someone has pulled the plug, and all of the air has gone out
of your balloon.
This is the way I feel today. I was out late at a friend’s birthday
party last night, and now I’m suffering the consequences of my good
time. Everything has been a mental and physical struggle today.
Often this motivation drain happens when you aren’t feeling great
physically. You just don’t have the energy to work or exercise or do
whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing.
Motivation also can desert us after a loss or failure.
We feel depleted or demoralized and can’t work up the initiative to
start again. Other times there’s no real explanation for it — motivation
just leaves you like a fickle friend. One day you’re on top of your
game, the next day you just want to stare at the TV and eat Doritos.
Whatever the reason, when motivation disappears, we feel done for.
All of our great plans are smothered by a wet blanket of lethargy and
low energy. Without motivation we think we can’t accomplish anything,
and this notion adds to our despair.
Not only have we lost energy and the impetus to take action, but also
we see ourselves as lazy losers. “I have no motivation, therefore I
must be a bad person.” Or another version might be, “I have no
motivation, therefore I’m incapable.”
We might not think these things consciously, but we have an
undercurrent of self-judgement further discouraging us from taking
action. We’re supposed to be producers. We’re supposed to get things
done. We’re supposed to feel in control of ourselves and our moods.
However, there’s a surprising secret about motivation most people don’t know . . .
You don’t really need it.
Of course motivation is great when it’s around. It makes it far
easier to get things done when you have energy, enthusiasm, and
initiative on your side. But are these things absolutely necessary in
order to accomplish something? No. You can still get plenty done without
a lick of motivation.
This morning, for example, I didn’t feel at all like taking my usual
run. I was tired, congested, and slightly hung over from one too many
glasses of wine last night. The last thing my body wanted was to push
through running in the summer heat while feeling so puny. So I decided I
would put on my running clothes and simply go for a walk. If I felt
inspired to run, I would do so only if I felt like it.
Once I started moving and warmed up my muscles, I did feel inspired.
It wasn’t my best run, and I didn’t run as far as I normally do. But I
ran in spite of my lack of motivation and energy. I ignored my lethargy
and took action anyway.
Nor did I feel like writing this post today. I really wanted to sit
and watch the World Cup and hang out with my guy. So I told myself I’d
write just one paragraph. I wrote that paragraph, and then I felt
motivated to continue. It’s funny how motivation works that way.
What we really need isn’t motivation, it’s momentum. We just need a
small bit of action to propel us forward. Then momentum will get the
ball rolling and often will spawn motivation.
Here are some thoughts on how to get motivated when you aren’t feeling it:
Stop the negative thoughts
One of the first things we do when we lose motivation to analyze it
and shame ourselves for losing it. “Why am I feeling so bad? What’s
happened to my energy? Why am I so lazy and undisciplined?” Interrupt
those thoughts as soon as you notice them. They don’t serve you in any
way.
If you’re having a low energy day, just notice your feelings without
judgment. Feelings come and go, and so does motivation. It doesn’t mean
anything, nor does it define you. Just calmly acknowledge this is how
you feel today.
Simplify your tasks
Whatever you need to be doing, break it down into small actions.
If you need to run or exercise, start by simply putting on your running
clothes. If you have a big project to complete, make a list of the
first five small actions involved in starting. You don’t need much
motivation (or really any at all) to do one or two small tasks.
Give yourself a break
Tell yourself all you need to do is get started with one or two of
these small actions. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to bite off more
than you feel like you can chew. Give yourself permission to do less
than your best. At least you’ll be doing something, and often just
something is enough to keep you moving. But if it’s not, that’s OK too.
Match tasks to mood
If you’re feeling really lethargic or ill, or you’re having trouble concentrating, try to match your actions with your mood.
Rather than trying to write that big contract, go to a less mentally
taxing task on your list, like going through your inbox or organizing
your files. Be flexible and allow yourself to switch gears so you can
continue to be productive even when you aren’t motivated.
Go outside
I often find simply by stepping outside and taking a walk, my mood
and motivation shift. Walking, running, or just being in nature gets my
creative juices flowing, and I feel ready to work when I return. Or use a
break to go outside as a reward for 30 minutes of focus on your task.
Inspire yourself
Prior to beginning whatever it is you want to accomplish for the day,
read or watch something inspirational. Seeing how others have made
things happen and pushed through challenges will often light a fire
under you. Just don’t get so caught up in reading or watching that you
neglect taking action yourself.
Don’t believe
Don’t accept the idea that without motivation you can’t achieve
anything. Don’t allow this false belief to lull you into inertia. You
can achieve plenty with a bit of self-discipline and a dash of momentum.
It is tempting to fall back on the excuse that you don’t feel
motivated, but doing this takes away your power and self-reliance. Use
your mind to control your feelings and actions — not the other way around.
Be kind to yourself
Sometimes a lack of motivation really means you need a rest. If
you’ve been working too hard, have a real illness, or have been dealing
with emotional distress, it’s perfectly normal to lose motivation and
energy. Sometimes the very best thing you can do is give yourself a
mental health day — without guilt or shame. This should be a conscious
choice based on self-awareness — not a belly-up response to feeling bad
about yourself.
Motivation, like so many other feelings, is fleeting and mercurial.
Sometimes you can manufacture it, but often it comes and goes of its own
accord. Rather than rely on motivation to determine your behavior,
decide how you want to behave and invite motivation to catch up. With or
without it, you are capable of accomplishing great things.
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