We’ve all been here: super excited about starting a project, tackling a goal or changing a habit. We have every intention of succeeding and getting to the finish line. A lot of time once the initial rah-rah subsides we lose steam and really don’t feel like doing it any more.
It doesn’t mean we’re terrible people who are unable to see anything through. I think a lot of time our self imposed expectations, deadlines and goals are un-realistic or over ambitious at best. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’ve lost steam and don’t feel like doing anything.
1. Embrace your imperfections. We are all human. We all make mistakes and it’s a good thing too, other wise how would we learn? Don’t be too hard on yourself. We all have times when we are motivated and we also have times when we are a little less than motivated. Hear it, accept it, don’t beat yourself up over it and get moving.
2. Start small. Sometimes when you don’t feel like doing anything it’s because there is some source of friction that is impeding your way forward. Start small. Make a list of things that you know need to get done but don’t worry about actually doing them – just list them. With the list in front of you start with one small action that can get you one tiny step closer to where you want to be. It may be somethings as small as laying out your exercise clothes or brainstorming gift ideas. Whatever it is start small and if the momentum picks up go with it until you’re on a roll.
3. Reconnect with why. You started doing this thing for a reason. Reconnect with that reason. What was your motivation behind starting this project, working towards this goal or changing that habit? List out your motivations and keep them in front of you. Spark that motivation each time you re-read the whys.
4. Re-evaluate. After having another look at the why’s, you may realize that your circumstance or situation has changed somewhat. Your situation may have changed so much that the goal or project is no longer relevant. If it isn’t, let it go. There is nothing wrong with starting something and not finishing it if it no longer suits you or doesn’t fit well with the new direction your life is taking. You’ll feel a lot less guilty when you give yourself permission to let something go than if you hold onto it but don’t actually do anything.
5. Just keep showing up. Motivation will ebb and flow – it’s normal. There will be days when you can accomplish a huge amount and other days when you won’t. The important thing is to keep showing up. The longer you leave something the harder it is to get back into it. Take writing for example, if you don’t feel like writing try simply brainstorm ideas, read, find new sources of inspiration or revise an old draft. You don’t have to complete a chapter or create a new plot line in one afternoon. Do something small, anything, but just keep showing up.
6. Change of scenery. If you’re stuck not feeling like doing anything try changing where you’re doing it from. Writing in the basement? Try moving upstairs to in front of a sunny window. Painting in your living room? Try the garage or out in the fresh air on the deck. Simply moving to a different place can spark all sorts of creativity.
What things do you do to get moving on something when you just don’t feel like doing anything?
See also:
Motivation Handbook To Help Get You Back On Course
Secrets of the Perpetually Unhappy
‘Just Do It’: The ONLY Way To Overcome Procrastination and Be Happier For It
Photo courtesy of: Gabriela Camerotti
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Persistence plays an extremely important part here as well. That helps you to show up as well, and follow through no matter how you’re feeling.
Catherine´s last blog ..How To Feel Rich and Become Wealthy: Start Thinking and Feeling Wealthy Now
Sherri, I love this article. You’ve touched on something so important, that it’s okay not to “feel” like doing anything sometimes, that there is something so human about that, and that in fact there is nothing wrong with it.
Thanks for sharing this, it’s something we all need to be reminded of.
Cheers,
Miche
Miche | Serenity Hacker´s last blog ..Accepting Suffering and A Call for Compassion
My intuition tells me this is the way you are feeling, Sherri, but you conquered it by writing about it. Bravo!
I totally understand! My MIL’s estate sales are over. I took a huge load of stuff and donated it to the thrift shop for the battered women’s shelter. So, next is selling stuff on ebay, and I’m paralyzed with fear.
Small step tomorrow: Take photos of stuff.
Hugs!
GREAT post! I really needed this one today… So inspiring and motivating!
Positively Present´s last blog ..note to self: it’s okay to be happy
why’s–why is there an apostrophy there?
“Start small”, and “Just keep showing up” are exactly what I need to remind myself of all the time. I should probably tattoo one on each hand, so I have to look at them all day when I’m typing!
Lisis´s last blog ..Adventure: Frolicking in Vermont’s Stick Season
I can definitely identify with the re-connect and re-evaluate. Taking a step back and remembering why…is a good way to decide to keep on going, or to take a break, or to redirect. As a perfectionist-type, it is hard for me to see “some-times” as a success. It usually needs to be “all-times.” But sometimes, you need that something, only sometimes and it is okay to put it aside for a bit.
Not completing things is out of integrity behavior and is worth looking at.
We often jump into things without looking if we are resourced to take it on.
I now look if I have time, money, energy, tools and skills to complete a project and if I have answered all with a ‘yes’ I proceed.
We are seldom aware of what we take on, we just say ‘yes’ and start and then we feel bad when we have over comitted ourselves and cannot complete.
That is correct to feel that that is not great behavior, no point in finding excuses, but instead of beating ourselve up we could look honestly at what is going on.
We waste a lot of our time by jumping in, time we claim we do not have.
And then we have trouble correcting our mistakes and make it worse by hanging on to projects that have no future.
I agree that once we realize that we no longer want to pursue the completion, the best thing is to let it go.
That is a great completion in itself and brings us back into integrity.
Wilma Ham´s last blog ..Questions, the doors to our hearts.
Good tips Sherri, sometimes when I do not feel like doing it, I take a break (day or few days) and decide after that if that task is really needed to be done or not, sometimes I cross it out of my-to-do list without doing it, if it not that critical.
Zengirl´s last blog ..13 ways to be compassionate
I’m with Wilma here. Spending time on looking at the required resources before committing is a useful place to begin any project or relationship for that matter.
And as you say Sherri, if it no longer works for us we have the right to stop doing it. The important part for me here is that it is communicated immediately. How many people decide to stop something and never tell others who are involved, not for a while anyway? Instead they let it dwindle and become so out of integrity with themselves that the mere mention of the project makes them cringe.
Putting ourselves first; coming from the heart will have our projects work out whether we complete them or not.
Ann-Marie´s last blog ..Questions, the doors to our hearts.
Yes, I’m sure A LOT of us can relate to that! Lack of motivation can certainly make mount washmore feel unclimbable.
Hugs to all the mothers out there!
Juggling Motherhood´s last blog ..Q&A: Discovery Dates
I know that when I start getting overwhelmed, I tend to stop making any forward progress whatsoever. I have to remind myself that every wall began with a single stone, and I just have to keep stacking those stones.
Hayden Tompkins´s last blog ..How to Get Your Move On!
How timely this is! I’ve recently been re-evaluating my blogging, because it’s been seeming like a drag and my intent was for it to be a creative outlet as a SAHM. I do just keep showing up. Maybe I’m just not as motivated right now. I’m trying to sit with it….a super-hard task for me.
turnitupmom´s last blog ..Shopping for Beef this Holiday Season
Singing is what helps me keep going on the gray days when I’m feeling down. I just have to remember to do it. The 6 ideas here are helpful as well.
Julia´s last blog ..Time for a Blogcation