Lacking motivation - How do YOU beat it?

Set yourself little goals every day for the next day. Then as you achieve them, think about bigger things and work out how to move toward them one step at a time. Most things relate to money. So manage your finances in such a way that you always have a little extra to spend on something that you want to do. Every journey is a series of steps. Tackle each goal one step at a time.
 
^ I have started creating "To-do lists" on my tablet/phone with the android "Keep" app which will remind me at a set time. Its great how just a little nudge will help beat the apathy the following day as I usually create mine while in bed as its my optimistic period before the morning grogginess begins hehe.

Just something as simple as having a list of things to do which you can check off and look back on really helps me, its just something about checking all the boxes at the end of the day feels so rewarding. Maybe I am a bit OCD, who knows..

Hope this helps :)
 
most people have trouble starting things

just tell yourself you're going to sit down for a couple of minutes and try the first bit of the task you need to do... once you've actually started it then it is easier to carry on going
 
craig_t said:
I generally lack motivation, this is in most things in life.

From getting up for work, walking the dog, doing the housework and sometimes even making/ordering tea.

Work - Each morning I struggle to wake myself up until the last (it's too late minute) so I rush around and end up around 10 minutes late for work daily.
Walk the dog, I could sit there for 4 hours after work telling myself I am going to walk him.. But just keep telling myself I can sit there instead.
Housework, I look at it thinking what a mess I hate this look blah blah but don't do anything about it.
Making tea I can rarely be bothered and have lived on takeaways for 3 year.
Gym, two years and two days ago I signed up for the gym. I've been only a few times, maybe a maximum of 10 yet paid for the subscription for 2 year now.

Once I do something, walk the dog, at the gym or whatever I do my best and feel 'motivated' so a 'i'll just walk the dog round the block' could go from a 2 minute walk to a 10 minute, or 1 hour etc... But it's getting to the part of doing.

You get the idea..

So what motivates you? Have you been in a similar position, what did you do to get past these said 'barriers'? What made you feel this way?
Click to expand...

It's funny because I am nearly exactly the same!

I wake up at the last possible moment and normally get to work about 30 seconds before I start. My room is a complete mess as I always put off tidying it up 'until tomorrow'. I can cook some food but most of the time end up buying something that's at least half ready so I don't need to bother cooking. I have been meaning to get back into the gym for over a year now...before that I went religiously.

This is all when I am by myself...when I am with the girlfriend...I can't do any of that or she will not be happy...I guess she motivates me? :D:p
 
dowie said:
most people have trouble starting things

just tell yourself you're going to sit down for a couple of minutes and try the first bit of the task you need to do... once you've actually started it then it is easier to carry on going
Click to expand...

Don't underestimate this. Little things add up.
 
craig_t said:
I'll clear a few things up...

I do walk the dog, I just don't have the initial motivation to get up and go.
I do clean the house, I just struggle to tell myself daily to hoover, mop, empty the dishwasher or whatever else.
I do eat, just can't be bothered making meals.
I do go to work I just struggle to get out of bed to go there.

If it was as easy as 'just do it' I wouldn't have wrote this thread. I'm sure there are many people out there who struggle to motivate, but if you find nothing a chore to do then this thread isn't for you
Click to expand...

I find everything a massive chore, but I also grab my nuts and JUST. DO. IT.

In the end you're just gonna have to. Might as well skip to the end and do it.
 
You sound completely normal to me.
get a GF, BF, wife, husband, or partner then you dont have to think just for yourself and motivation becomes more necessary.

and JUST DO IT
 
Whitewater said:
Just do it.
Click to expand...

Agree.

I get like that with things sometimes but then just decided one day that if I did whatever it was the first time rather than procrastinate then it would be done and I'd have more time for hobbies etc.

Nobody can motivate you other than yourself.

Haven't read further down the thread but sounds like you're in a bit of a rut - you know what to do but just lack motivation to do it.

Everyone is different so just try and see what works for you but I know for me if I set myself a challenge I often do it as I am highly competitive (even against myself), e.g. decorate a room in 3 days as it took me 5 last time or get my work done by 3pm so I can go home early to catch some of the snooker. Whatever works for you.

Gym was a good one for me (not able to go due to my back at the moment). I used to have to go at 5:30am otherwise I wouldn't have time during the rest of the day and trying to improve amount I was lifting or improve technique really motivated me like not much else.
 
Last edited:
Whenever I feel like this, I know a change is needed. I recently had this and IMO its nearly always related to work, as its a huge part of your life. Whenever I feel like i cant get out of bed on time, "I'll go in a bit later", etc I start looking for a new job. You need something to reinvigorate you, something new to make you a bit scared and make you want to achieve something.
 
It really is a case of not thinking about it or using a distraction. In my mind I get up in the morning to listen to the news on Radio4, the fact I am going to work is just something else happening later.

Cleaning for me is a chance to listen to a new album. If I want to listen to music then it is either when I am washing up, hanging washing, cleaning the bathroom or vacuuming.

Cooking is the time I use to listen to an audio book or podcast.

Another approach is to make a list and then spend one weekend a month with your internet router switched off and get that stuff done.
 
What made you feel this way?
Being Lazy

what did you do to get past these said 'barriers'?
Surrounded myself with competitive / ambitious / successful friends. Set myself some challenges and reminding myself that no-one really likes lazy people.
 
You need to see where you are now as a stepping stone to where you want to be.

If you just sit back and cruise for the foreseeable future, how are you going to feel in 15 year's time?

You need to set yourself some goals, so that you can see that the value in doing the things you struggle to motivate yourself to do, is that it helps you achieve something.

For example, if you want to push for a promotion at work you might have to try getting in 30 mins early everyday and getting ahead of your tasks.

Only an example as your work might not work like that, but it shows that if you have something to work for, you'll see the value in driving yourself to do more than the absolute bare minimum, which it sounds like you do now.

If you aren't striving to improve yourself or your situation, then carry on as you are. What is the point in trying any harder? YOU have to make that change in mindset to want to better yourself, and the motivation will follow I promise
 
I am very similar. I struggle to get out of bed a lot of mornings and force myself to get out. It takes an element of discipline which I've only relatively recently started improving on.

I tend to do do big clean up on weekends. Clothes washing and dishes. My dishes just pile up pre rinsed for a lot of the week. Sometimes ill do dishes during the week but only if I am cooking and a lot of the time I buy take out on the way home.

Don't have a dog although I would like one. Don't go to gym or do exercise although I did buy new running shoes not used them yet, I only have excuses.

None of this bothers me though. I am happy being relaxed about it. It wouldn't be compatible lifestyle for a gf because they won't tolerate that sort of thing, well usually. But that situation is not changing any time soon so why put effort in is way I look at it.

I am not fat and do keep my house clean just chilled about it all. No time for ocd clean freaks or gym fanatic in my life :)
 
Coffee and guilt tripping myself generally does it.

"You'll only hate yourself for not doing it."

Although that has been easier to ignore since Fallout 4 was released.
 
Efour said:
You sound completely normal to me.
get a GF, BF, wife, husband, or partner then you dont have to think just for yourself and motivation becomes more necessary.

and JUST DO IT
Click to expand...

Partners keep nagging until you do it. A great motivator that.
 
Key to self-motivation is understanding your motivators. What they are can surprise you. If you work with a good mentor they can help you explore these and come to define a couple of your key motivators. Once you understand them, you can play on them. When you are down, you can think and do small things that trigger your motivators and lift your energy and spirits.
 
SMN said:
Whenever I feel like this, I know a change is needed. I recently had this and IMO its nearly always related to work, as its a huge part of your life. Whenever I feel like i cant get out of bed on time, "I'll go in a bit later", etc I start looking for a new job. You need something to reinvigorate you, something new to make you a bit scared and make you want to achieve something.
Click to expand...

This, a change is as good as a rest as they say. I'm in a similar boat at the moment, I can motivate myself towards the things I need to do at home but work is very tricky at the moment. Been in the same team for 5 years and feeling like I need a change, though whilst I'm planning my escape it's getting harder and harder to get out of bed.

The 8 mile cycle in the cold and wet doesn't help. Roll on summer!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom