How to Motivate Yourself When You’re Just Not Feeling It
“I’m so over it,” I said, completely dejected.
Just last year, I was talking to a mentor of mine about how gassed I was. I was dealing with some major family issues, I had switched jobs, I was at the end of a grueling failed crowdfunding campaign, and I had volunteered to help put together a networking event that was doomed from the start.
At that time, I was facing a book launch that I flat out did NOT want to do.
I had spent months working on this book, but when it came time to get it off the ground, I found myself lacking the energy to get it over the goal line.
No matter how much of a goal-getter you are, you’re going to hit a wall. There are some times when you’re just not feeling it.
Sometimes you get overwhelmed by everything that is going on in your life. If you’re a high-achiever like me, you are constantly involved in something that has taken you out of your comfort zone. Your mind then begins racing because of all the responsibilities you must carry on your shoulders. You wake up every morning dreading getting out of bed because of all of the spinning plates you must balance.
Other times, you simply get worn down by the struggle. You continually put in a ton of work and the grind of the tasks slowly eats at you day by day. What was once an effortless (and exciting) task becomes monotonous, taxing, and unenjoyable.
In either case, you’re stuck in a rut. And that’s okay. It happens to all of us, especially high-achievers.
If this is you, I have some bad news and good news. First, the bad news: if you don’t find a way out of the rut of demotivation, it will eventually grow into a much bigger problem like anxiety, hopelessness, or even depression. These are much more challenging to get past.
However, there is hope. Below are 3 things you can do to get motivated… even when you’re just not feeling it.
1. Examine the root cause. Why are you not feeling it right now? Do you need a break? Is this feeling temporary, or is it more than that? These are the initial questions you should be asking yourself. Self-reflection is key to determining the next action to take to motivate yourself, and even just knowing why you are feeling the way you are gives you a sense of control that could jumpstart your motivation and productivity.
2. Remember why you are doing what you are doing. What’s your “Why,” meaning why are you doing what you are doing? Is there an end goal you are trying to get to? If you haven’t asked yourself this question before, don’t fret; write yourself down a personal mission and vision statement. If you have, think back to your initial reason for taking action in the first place. Maybe it was to solidify your family’s future, or to finally purchase your dream car in cash (like a boss). Whatever it is, when your “Why” is greater than your “How”, the “How” will take care of itself.
3. Tough love. If all else fails, suck it up and power through it! Sometimes you just have to do things that you don’t want to do. It may feel uncomfortable, and it may be stressful. At this point, just put your head down and do it anyways. Odds are, once you get started, the process will be a lot easier than you thought.
Need some more help? I’m working on a project to deliver 30 strategies geared towards helping you get back on track when you’re not feeling motivated. If you’re interested in that, click here.
Motivation is a tricky thing. We can’t always be on-fire, goal-getting maniacs ALL of the time, nor do we have to be. However, using the strategies above, you can help yourself get back on track and ensure the work gets done whether you want to or not.
