Are you feeling unmotivated?
How to find inspiration whenever you need it
“You don’t always need a plan.
Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go and see what happens.”
Mandy Hale
I don’t know about you, but I find there are some days when it’s really hard to get motivated. On those days I usually have low energy and don’t get much done.
Lately, though, it happens less and less, and that’s because I now know that when I’m not feeling motivated, it’s always due to something I’m thinking. I let go, breathe, and go within. Then I get to work to change my thoughts.
But how do you get motivated when you have such uninspiring thoughts?
Here are 10 ways to get yourself going when you feel unmotivated:
Change your surroundings. If you’re sitting on the couch, get up and move to another room. Even better - go outside and get some fresh air. Take a walk in nature.
Change what you’re doing. If you’re feeling “stuck” and unable to move forward with whatever you’re doing, then try doing something else for a little while. Shifting to a new activity will help shift your mindset.
Create very small, bite-sized goals. When you meet those goals, reward yourself with something easy and fun.
If you don’t know what to do first, then pick the easiest thing on your to-do list and just do it. It doesn’t matter if it’s the most important thing or not, getting started on anything at all will get you in motion and start the momentum going.
Simplify your to-do list. As Marie Forleo says, “Simplify to amplify”. When you simplify your tasks they won’t seem as onerous and you’ll get more done.
Make sure you’re setting boundaries. Are you doing things that you want to do or what others are expecting you to do? Set start and finish times and keep a commitment to those boundaries.
Read something inspiring and positive every day. Yes, we need to keep up on the news, but it’s also important to fill our minds with positive information as well.
Celebrate your wins. When you get something done, congratulate yourself! Give yourself a short break before you move on to something else.
Meditate, move or do some mindful writing. Engaging in a mindful practice will always be inspiring.
Remember to focus on your “why”. Why are you doing this anyway?
Motivation is a feeling. Find the feeling and investigate it. Where is the feeling in your body? Describe the feeling. What are the sensations? Does it have a color? A shape? Find the feeling and then ask yourself, how do I want to feel instead? Whenever you’re feeling unmotivated it will always be because of something you're thinking. What were your thoughts that led to this lack of motivation? So what more useful and productive thought can you start thinking instead? Make a conscious decision to let go of thoughts that aren’t serving you. “I can’t do this” or “I don’t know how to get started” aren’t useful thoughts. Try changing them to “I’m going to find out how to do this” and just start!
Are you hungry? Tired? Do you have an idea why you’re feeling unmotivated? What is holding you back? Sit with your thoughts and feelings and really notice. This may be a good time to do some journaling or talk to a friend, a coach, or a counselor if this is something that you often experience.
Some other things to consider: Do you have any habits that are encouraging this lack of motivation? For example, do you automatically sit on the couch every night after dinner to watch T.V.? What habits aren’t supporting you and what can you change?
Educate yourself on your feelings. Really investigate why it’s happening.
Here are some additional ways to get inspired right now:
Go outside for a walk. If you can get out into nature and allow yourself to breathe in the fresh air and listen to the quiet, your thoughts may become clearer.
Meditate. Sit quietly and breathe. Watch the thoughts come and go. Find ease and calm in just being still in mindfulness for a short time.
Spend time with an animal. Do you have a cat or dog around? Sitting and cuddling with a pet will lift your mood and inspire you to get going.
Take some pictures. Just use your phone if you don’t have a camera. Take note of the colors and shapes. What’s inspiring in your environment?
Do some sort of creative activity - drawing, painting, writing, sewing, knitting, baking, etc.
Learn something new or teach someone else how to do something.
Read a new book or re-read an old favorite.
Listen to uplifting music.
What else can you think of? This list is only limited by your imagination!
Once you’ve spent some time on yourself, doing something fun, creative, active, or quiet, you may find that you’re more motivated to keep moving towards your goals.
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I’d love to hear from you so please send any comments or questions to me at sharon@sharonashtonmindfulyoga.com. Feel free to share this email with anyone else who may be interested.
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Are you interested in learning more about life change & mindset coaching from a mind/body perspective? Please email me at sharon@sharonashtonmindfulyoga.com for more information or to schedule a free introductory consultation to see if coaching is right for you. You can also visit my website coaching page.
"I felt at complete ease with Sharon from our first conversation. She has a wonderful, gentle but firm way that made me focus on my thoughts / feelings so I could remove / change to move forward with a completely different feeling to what felt like obstacles. It was great having regular coaching that gently kept me accountable to actioning and moving towards my goals. Sharon has vast experience in so many areas, I felt that makes her an amazing coach.”
— Michelle Carney, East Galway, Ireland
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