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Writer's pictureStephanie Haynes

Jumpstart Your Motivation

Feeling a little sluggish in the motivation department? You're not alone, but there are some ways we can jumpstart it... if you can muster up enough motivation to try!

A few weeks ago I shared in my weekly newsletter that I have been struggling with motivation. It's not that I don't have anything to do, it's more that I don't want to spend energy doing, well, almost anything.


This is weird for me. I am always motivated to do whatever is on my infamous to-do list (infamous because it is way too big for any one person to accomplish in a day...). And now, with a lot more time on my hands, I figured I'd have all the motivation I needed to do way more than usual.


mo·ti·va·tion /ˌmōdəˈvāSH(ə)n/ noun: The general desire or willingness of someone to do something.

And yet, I don't.


While I have been doing a little research about why a lot of us are struggling with motivation, I have also been holding informal discussions with myself and others about this. Why are we struggling so much?


For one, we are all grieving the loss of what was. We are grieving the loss of connecting the way we enjoyed. We are grieving the loss of special celebrations. Some of us are even grieving the loss of loved ones. That grief steals a lot of energy, which affects our motivation levels.


Second, we are facing huge unknowns. No one knows when businesses will open up, restaurants will resume service, or travel will re-enter our lives. Not only that, no one knows for sure what safety measures need to be in place or even how to deal with COVID-19 so we don;t go through this all again in a few months. All that unknown means our decision making has no real solid platform so every decision has to have 2-3 contingency plans, just in case, draining our motivational energy.


Third, our normal lives are totally disrupted. We may be working more than ever or not at all, managing 5 different school levels or trying to develop preschool enrichment activities. We may have no one at home, or be quarantining with several more people than we are used to seeing so much. All this change drains us too, leaving our motivation in a heap under that laundry pile...


Fourth, our routines aren't normal. We don't wake up at the usual time, or if we do we don't have the same things to do. We are staying up later, or sleeping more. We are eating more or less and binging more Netflix or reading up a storm. However we were leading our lives, not much reasoning to cling to that normal remains. The lack of regular structure means we are left to our own natures to motivate us... not very motivating is it?


So, what do we DO about all this?


Well, that depends. How bothered ar you by your lack of motivation?


If you are bothered, here are a few things to try to jumpstart your motivation:

  1. Create a routine you can live with for a while. Start with scheduling a regular wake/sleep schedule, meal/snack times, office/schooling hours, and personal self care sessions (exercise, shower, etc).

  2. Build in personal accountability. Invite a friend or family member to check in with you. Or, build a Facebook Group around holding each other accountable to moving forward. Or, choose some friends with which to share your struggles, discuss ways to help each other, and commit to each other to take one step.

  3. Develop bite-size goals. What, exactly, are you trying to do right now? Prepare for when the pool finally opens back up? Build a different career path? Potty train your 2 year old? Set small goals for yourself and work towards them each day.

  4. Focus on the bigger picture. We are in the middle of a pandemic. When you look back at the end of 2020 how do you want to say you navigated this season of your life? What changes do you need to make so that can be your reality?


Jumpstarting motivation is a different process for all of us. If you are struggling with motivation, I am offering free 30-min Motivation Jumpstart Sessions in May. We will discuss your particular situation and develop custom strategies to help.


Join the Conversation: What's your level of Motivation and how are you handling it?

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