Sometimes, trying to start work on a project, or even a simple task, is like trying to get water from a rock. It’s just not happening. Like me, for example, trying to get started writing today. Plenty of ideas, no other necessary tasks to distract myself with, and I sat staring at the screen and trying desperately to find something else to do. I just wasn’t feeling it.
I’ve written before about trying to get motivated and stay motivated about things that you weren’t going to be punished for not doing. Using myself as an example again, things like this blog. No one is going to fire me, or keep me to work overtime, or write me up if I don’t write something or put up a post. These are the kinds of things that are the hardest to work on when your motivation is lagging, because if the internal motivation isn’t there, there’s no external force to make you do it anyway.
Since this seems to be such a problem for me, and some people shared having similar motivation problems, I’ve been trying to come up with ways to work through this lack of desire. Unfortunately, what I’ve come up with is pretty limited, but hopefully it’ll help some people out.
- fake it. Yes, like I said in the post title, you can fake your motivation. Pretend you’re excited about it. Tell yourself, out loud, that you’re excited about it. Tell other people. It may not make you actually excited, but the energy you’ve built up by just pretending is real even if the source of that energy is fake. And it may be enough to get you moving.
- as long as it doesn’t stress you out and make it worse, remind yourself why you need or want to do whatever task you have at hand. Make a list of your reasons (I love lists!). Reminding yourself of the motivation you used to have for a task, or the motivation you should have for a task, can wake it back up. Though if it just makes you feel crappy about procrastinating and keeps you avoiding the project, scrap this idea as it can be counter-productive in some cases.
- do something smaller. If you need to get started on, say, writing a blog post (yes, I realize this example is getting tiresome, but I’m going for consistency here), and you just can’t dredge up the energy or motivation to get moving on it, do something else that’s smaller and easier. Go get the mail, or fold your jeans, or dust the shelves in the hallway. As we all learned in physics, an object at rest wants to remain at rest, and an object in motion wants to stay in motion. Once you’ve got some momentum doing something, it’ll be easier to keep moving by starting on whatever you need to work on.
Have you tried any of these before, and did they work for you? What other tips do you have on this subject? Do you think I’m full of crap? Do tell.
Related posts:
I am able to get things done when I’m not motivated if it’s something that affects other people. I don’t like to disappoint. I don’t like to break a promise.
Suggestions for getting large jobs (yuck – like housework) done? I read an article on the net the other day that gave several 1 minute tricks to do that will keep housework easier. For example, wiping out the sink every time it’s used instead of scrubbing for an hour once a week. Put things back where they belong when you’re done using them. Not only does it save time the next time you need it, you won’t have a ton of stuff to put away at the end of the week/month. Combine little tasks as you see them instead of assuming you can do them later (you will forget and it will become large).
Promise yourself a “PRIZE’ when you finish something you can’t get motivated to do. No cheating (Kings cheeseburger?) Make it worthwhile to start and once you start don’t stop for a break (unless you see blood).