8 Ways to Motivate Yourself When You Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything
- xxoliviarussellxx
- Mar 6, 2015
- 4 min read
Hi friends! Happy Friday! Woohoo we made it through another week! Time to parrrrtaaaayyy! No? Not up to it? As a person that suffers from clinical depression, I know what it’s like to just not feel like doing anything. Or even when you have something to do, any little thing becomes an excuse to not do it. There have been days where if I managed to shower, that was my only accomplishment. There’s nothing wrong with having a lazy day every now and then, but when you know that you have actual work to do yet you’re on your second bowl of Lucky Charms and well into your fourth hour of a Law and Order: SVU marathon, it’s time for a wake-up call.
So if you find yourself stuck in a rut, unable to tell your cell phone from the TV remote control, here are 8 ways to pull yourself together and get moving.
Get an accountability partner.
For the most part, we are not afraid to let ourselves down. But the idea of letting someone else down carries more weight with us. In a study conducted in 2005, doctors at Brown Medical School and Dartmouth University discovered that people who had an exercise buddy who successfully lost weight were more successful at losing, too. You can apply this to other areas of your life besides weight loss, such as a study buddy or sobriety coach. Whether it’s your best friend, boyfriend, co-worker, family member or random person in the gym you just met; find someone who can motivate and push you, but also understands when you just need to be left alone. Because some days, good enough, is good enough, and you need to hear that.
2. Focus on your goal, not on the plan.
Plans change, but your goal shouldn’t. If you find yourself facing a setback of any kind, just think of it like this, ‘Your setback is really a setup for something great’. But you will never reap the harvest if you quit. Alter your plan as you need to, but never lose sight of what’s important.
3. Control your mind.
Some days are better than others; don’t let this keep you down. Your mind is influenced by both negative and positive thoughts. Learn to ignore the negative and surround yourself with positive energy. When you make room for positive energy to enter, you will be able to receive it. Don’t forget the law of attraction.
4. You are responsible for the outcomes, but give yourself a break.
Bad things happen all the time, but we have control over how we respond to it. I’ll admit, there are times when the only thing that can solve the problem is a good cry. So set the timer for 20 minutes and let it out, then get back to work!
5. Take care of your body.
Maybe your problem is not feeling motivated enough to exercise. Maybe you know exactly why you want to do it but can’t bring yourself to do it. Don’t make excuses when it comes to taking care of yourself. Your mental and physical state of beings are very important when trying to accomplish any task. Neglect your needs, and you won’t be able to perform your best. Rest well, eat well.
6. Take opportunities to expand your horizon.
It’s hard to try something new when you can barely complete the usual tasks you have to do, but if an opportunity presents itself to you, you’re going to regret not taking it and spend a good much of time wondering, ‘what if’. To this day, I still wonder how different my life would’ve been had I applied to Howard University. So whenever you can, explore new lands, try new dishes. Always mix it up. Trying new things daily can help to prevent you from getting stuck in a rut.
7. Learn from your mistakes.
Okay so your last relationship didn’t go the way you planned, but this is a part of life and more importantly, a part of your story. There’s no use crying or antagonising over what didn’t happen. You’re here today, which means that in the end, you’re still doing something right, no matter how small that something is. Once you’ve figured out why something didn’t work, document it, discover a solution or way to avoid repeating the same mistake, and move on.
8. Success is relative.
You cannot measure your success against Susie’s success. Sometimes you’ll feel bad because there are people your age doing much more than you. THAT’S THEIR LIFE NOT YOURS! Don’t feel inferior because you’re not where they are. If it was meant for you, you would or will eventually have it. Some people are destined to save rainforests, and some people are the best baristas I’ve ever come in contact with. No one is better than anyone else and your dream is not invalid. Always stay ambitious and surround yourself with ambitious people. Regardless of how big or small your goal may be, just remember that it’s your goal, for your life.
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