Sure, you might be a natural-born motivated person, but in reality, we’re most motivated when it entails doing something we want to do. Things that are fun and give us gratification —motivated! Tasks that are boring like filing papers, writing a rough draft of something, returning packages, working out at the crack of dawn —those things… not motivated! So what happens when you have an end goal of something fabulous like losing 75lbs or retiring when you’re 50yrs old, but the tedious steps it takes to get there are a little… shall we say, unmotivating?
It’s easy to avoid tasks we don’t like to do, or that seem too difficult or overwhelming. Especially tasks that don’t deliver a great reward in the moment, like declining a cookie after lunch. You won’t lose 10lbs that day, but if you continue to opt out of daily dessert, you’ll surely see the difference over time.
So how do we get out of an unmotivated rut? I thought I’d share 17 Easy Ways to Get Motivated When You Feel Unmotivated.
01. PHONE A FRIEND
When you can’t get out of your head, it would help you leaps and bounds to talk to a friend who wants to understand —someone that will spend time with you and offer suggestions. You know, those friends who will help you see the problem objectively. Talking about it leads to clarity, and clarity can unlock motivation.
02. SET UP A MEETING WITH SOMEONE IN THE INDUSTRY
Let’s say you want to enter a new industry but don’t feel like you know enough about it to dive in head first. Instead of putting off the unknowns, try to uncover some of them. Uncertainty leads to procrastination and avoidance. Once you get more insight into the industry, you’ll be more motivated to take big or small leaps.
03. FIND WAYS TO BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE
When we’re more confident, we’re more motivated. Suppose you’ve been putting off going to the gym because you may not feel pretty or comfortable in your workout clothes. That can feel de-motivating. Try buying new workout clothes to boost your confidence —something you feel confident and comfortable in.
04. GET OUTSIDE
Sometimes we just need to jolt our unmotivated mental state by taking a walk or getting out in nature. Walking helps you clear your mind, change your focus and gain more clarity. Being in nature decreases stress and anxiety, elevating your emotional well-being.
05. TAKE A CLASS
Enroll in a class, course, or membership that boosts your knowledge and/or mindset. When you start something new or begin working towards a greater goal, you get motivated by your forward progress.
06. CHANGE YOUR DIET
Our diet indeed affects our mood. Protein increases the level of certain brain chemicals that affect our mood, focus, and motivation. On the flip side, when we consume processed foods, they make us feel sluggish and tired.
07. READ A PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH BOOK
Personal growth books are life-changing. They’re motivating, uplifting, and relatable, and usually come with actionable items that anyone can complete. When we think we’ve read them all or have gotten all the motivational thoughts we can get, we open another mental growth book and realize there’s still more to digest.
08. WRITE DOWN YOUR WINS
When you take the time to write out what you’ve accomplished thus far, it will astonish you. It’s easy to overlook all the small steps we took to get somewhere. All those small steps add up! Embracing your wins is a great motivator to move you forward.
09. TAKE A BREAK
Our motivation flies out the window when we’re overworked or burnt out. Stepping back, allowing yourself time to take a break, removes you from the grind, helping you free up head space to think more clearly.
10. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
Take note of your progress. How often have you started something without keeping a tally of how it’s going? Tracking progress not only gives us accountability, it helps us celebrate our wins along the way, and it helps us see what hasn’t been working. And when we can track what is working, it motivates us to do ‘it’ more.
11. TAKE A VACATION
This is more than just taking a break. I recommend you actually pack up and leave your home. Better yet, leave your country. Remove yourself from a stagnant space and visit the bustling world around you. Watching different cultures of the world working thru life just as you are, widens your eyes to great possibilities, and you have the power to accomplish.
12. SET NEW GOALS
Maybe it’s time to set new goals. Set long-term goals and work backward to make sure each one stays aligned. It’s never too late to reroute yourself to a new goal. We have to learn what isn’t working and move towards what is.
13. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE
Positive people make a huge impact on your mood and motivation. When you’re around motivated people, it naturally rubs off on you. Positive people are inspiring and cheer for your success. They encourage you to succeed and surround you with support.
14. GET ACTIVE
Get active and get moving. When we’re stuck in a rut, one of the best ways to clear our minds is to get the blood flowing. Exercise improves concentration and mood by stimulating the feel-good chemicals in the brain, enhancing our emotional well-being. When we feel strong, we feel more confident, and we feel more motivated.
15. PRACTICE SELF-CARE
When caring for everyone but ourselves, it’s no wonder we’re exhausted and unmotivated. Self-care is on of the best ways to show yourself love and support. Giving yourself a renewed, refreshed feeling of being cared will boost your motivation to go after the next goal.
16. TEND TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Your mental health should be at the forefront of your attention. And for most people, that’s usually not the case. Seeking professional help from a therapist is a productive and effective way to get to the root of the problem.
17. CHANGE THE WAY YOU PERCEIVE THINGS
Change the way you view the world. When we take the stance that things are hard, they are. Instead, put a positive spin on the mundane, celebrate the boring, and congratulate the milestones of the insignificant because, most often, they aren’t insignificant at all.
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