If you asked me who I relate most to in a TV show. It's Bender. Not just because I aspire to have his "In your face attitude," but who he is as a character relates deeply to my conscious inner monologue.
Yes, there are days when doing anything, let alone two things, feels impossible. How do I motivate myself to get anything done? Here are some tips that help when I am having "one of them days." Get ready, and get motivated! Here's how to get things done when you don't feel like it.
Go with the flow.
If you don't feel like doing anything, allow it. Sometimes I push myself to get up, make my bed, work out, vacuum the house, etc. when I want to be a log. I've learned to lean into this feeling and let it take me. When I feel like I am dreading getting something done. I allow myself to be a log and not do anything for an hour. I often find that allowing myself this time gives me space away from whatever I think I should be doing. Once I've allowed myself to be a log, I can usually get myself going on the right foot.
Get one thing done.
Making your day simple as 'Do this one thing' can help immensely. Instead of the long-running list of 20+ things, choose one thing to accomplish. Setting the bar low for a day can be a drastic mood-changer. Once you have a good feeling from the accomplishment, do not be surprised if you suddenly realize you can tackle more.
Use an "If..., then..." statement.
If I am unmotivated, it can help create an if... then... situation. In other words, I bargain with myself. Much like the Professor would negotiate with Bender. I tell myself, "If you do this one thing, then you don't have to do anything else today." Or "If you do these two things, you can have ice cream today." It's juvenile, but honestly, it works. Even if I am dragging myself through the tasks, I feel accomplished once I have them done. Sometimes, I even feel motivated to take on other tasks.
Be kind to yourself and be grateful.
Maybe the lack of motivation is telling you to slow down. We all need some me time. If you have been pushing yourself non-stop, sometimes the best way to get motivated is to take a break and be kind to yourself. While taking the time to be kind to yourself, you can also practice gratitude. Practicing gratitude - saying "I get to..." instead of "I have to..." can shift your mindset around getting things done. If your tasks are things you have to do, that's no fun. But if they become opportunities and something to be grateful for, it can shift your mood to a better place.
Hopefully, these tips can help you get things done!
Here's to the journey!
-Yael
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