Have you ever felt like you were suck? Have you constantly been wondering why you cannot seem to motivate yourself to do anything? I have definitely been feeling that lately. It has become harder and harder to do the tasks that I did not want to do in the first place. As I am realizing that this is a problem, I have been trying to find things that I can do to motivate myself. Once you lose motivation in the things you do not want to do, there is only a matter of time before that loss of motivation reaches the things you do.
As a result, I have find a couple of things that have worked for me. I wanted to share some of those things with you guys, because I know I am not the only person who sometimes struggles with self-motivation. Here is a list of things that have helped me. Hopefully, there is something that can help you too.
The key to self-motivation is taking care of physical and mental health. As a result, I have listed things for both, because they are both equally as important for your well-being.
1. Sleep
As cliché as this is, sleep is so important. Your body needs sleep to function and be productive. When you are tired, it makes it so much harder to do anything. Plus, it can make you become upset or angry. I understand that sleep can be hard to get, but it is important for your body to have that downtime. Even if you can not sleep, it is important for you to take that time to relax, without any distractions.
2. Get organized
If you are anything like me, then this may be something super valuable to you. There is nothing more stressful, than having a lot of ciaos, physically and mentally. I just did some spring cleaning and it was honestly a game changer because I have allergies. Also, I can think so much clearer when my room is clean. Whether it is school, work, or home, it is valuable to get yourself organized, because it can help define some uncertainties. Plus, who does not enjoy having a freshly cleaned room?
3. Doing something that YOU enjoy
I emphasize the you, because it has to be something that you like to do. You may spend time with family and friends and do fun and exciting things, but are those things that you wanted to do? This distinction is very important, because there are so many people who are always busy doing exciting things, but still are not happy. Self-motivation includes yourself, so you have to discover what makes you happy. Of course, it is great to do things that your friends and family want to do. You just have to make sure that those things do not begin to mask the things that you want to do, because what you want is just as important.
Whether it is watching tv and/or YouTube videos, listening to music, going to concerts, reading a book, going shopping, playing with your dog, eating out, it does not matter as long as YOU love it.
4. Get out of the house
I am an introvert. I love sitting at home and watching hours of YouTube videos. As I have spent so many days in my bed, I had forgotten how much I love being outside. Currently, I am writing this at the park on a beautiful day, because it is better than being suck in the house all day. Sometimes, we can get stuck in a cycle. Especially during the winter, it is so easy to get used to staying inside your four walls. There is something valuable in leaving your space. It allows you to experience new things and see yourself and the world in a different way. Whether it is as simple as going to the store or going to see a movie, it is important to take a break from your own space.
5. See people… In person
There is something unique about human interaction that you cannot get from a screen. In-person interaction is very important, and I believe that we need it. Personally, I love watching daily vlogs, because of the relationship and bond that you create with that person. I think the fact that so many people value vlogs and dedicate so much time to watching them shows how important a human connection is. I have realized how meaningful it is to see my friends and family. I am not saying that every time you see family and friends it will be great or that you need to rearrange your entire schedule to hang out with people, but I am saying that when you have the opportunity, you should yes instead of no. Healthy relationships are necessary.
6. Gather your thoughts
I love a good to-do list. I am constantly making lists and trying to plan out my schedule. I think this tip complements that perfectly. So many times, we can get distracted and unsure about our lives. I think taking the time to truly figure out what you want to do and why can be very helpful. The key to this is writing it down. When you write it down, then it is concrete. It is no longer just an idea in your head that you can alter to fit whatever emotion you are feeling at the time. It is a way to hold yourself accountable to the things that you have created for yourself. Everything from writing down your dreams to your achievements, can help you to keep yourself on track.
7. Take time to process emotions and feelings
Of all the tips so far, this is the most important. Over time, I have seen that people, including myself, rush themselves in processing their emotions or they do not process them at all. It is so important for us to acknowledge our emotions and feelings for what they are and handle them accordingly. I believe that this is the hardest thing to do, because of the energy and emotional toll that comes with it. The best part is it does not have to be done overnight. We will have to process our emotions and feelings for the rest of our lives. As long as we are working on our ourselves, then we are on the right path. It begins with us acknowledging that we have a problem.
8. Remind yourself that hard times don’t last always
In addition to tip 7, it is so important for us to remember that we are on a journey. This is not a sprint. This is a marathon and we are moving at our own pace. Something I have to tell myself all the time is that I have to appreciate the little things. We have to remember the good times, especially during the hard times. We cannot let the hard times overlook the good times, because those good times are what help us keep pushing forward.
I know this is a little bit of a different kind of post, but it is something that has been on mind lately. It is a note to myself that I will keep as a reminder as well as something that I thought could be helpful to share with each and every one of you.
If I want you to leave this post remembering anything, I want you to know that you are valuable and important to me. I wish you the best in anything that makes you happy and excited for life.
Thanks so much for reading! As High School Musical would say: We are all in this together!