Today is one of those days when I’m struggling to get moving. It happens.
I woke up too early as usual, put on the coffee and returned to my room to watch the scale move in its usual wrong direction. I want to go for a hike in the woods, but it’s cold — a -12 Celsius cold. Reading might be a better option, but I’m not in the mood for reading. I want to be moving, not sitting but the gym just isn’t calling my name loud enough. I have no motivation. I may just procrastinate until it’s time to eat lunch.
What drives motivation?
Lack of motivation is something everyone experiences once in a while. You have a task to do, but you procrastinate. Maybe it doesn’t interest you or it’s something big like writing a presentation for work. You don’t know where to start, so you put it off. A lack of motivation can leave you feeling depressed or, in my case, guilty for not getting the things done that need doing.
Don’t fear, there are days when just relaxing and doing nothing is perfectly fine and normal. We all have those days. But when things do need to get done, here are a few ways to help you get moving.
Break up the tasks.
If there’s one thing I know, once I start a task, I gain more interest in completing the task. Breaking the one big task into smaller ones can get you moving. It’s easier to finish a smaller job and that will leave you with a sense of accomplishment. Everyone likes a win on their list. So don’t clean the whole house, start with one room and feel good about it. You may even want to schedule a different room for each day. Don’t complete the full presentation — unless its due the next day. Maybe today you simply create an outline with the points or messages you want to cover?
Make notes the night before.
It’s amazing what a to-do list can do. Like breaking your tasks into smaller bites, write a to-do list the night before. That way you’ll know exactly what you have to tackle the next day. You have a plan that will make the day easier!
Keep it light
Don’t cram too many things into your day so you can get them done early. Then you can spend the remainder of your day relaxing without guilt or anxiety. You may even find that you’re energized by what you’ve accomplished and ready to do more.
Find purpose
Later in my morning, I got a message from a friend who needed my help. Now my day had real purpose. A sense of need or connection can motivate you to move. I’m ready to get on with my day so I can plan to help my friend and have something to talk about when I get there. If you’re feeling unmotivated, reach out to friends and family. Let them know how you’re feeling and offer a hand.
You’re probably wondering, what does motivation have to do with communication? As a writer or communicator, you’re going to have days when you’re not motivated to write. One of my tasks today was to write my blog, but I had no idea what I would write about, until now.
How do you motivate yourself? Share your tips in the comments.
(Oh, when I’m done, I’m going for a walk. Not a long hike, but a trip around the block. Now that I’ve told you, I have to do it!)
Writing for you. 