Photo by Cristofer Maximilian from Unsplash

Losing motivation doesn’t happen in a swift snap of a finger; it’s a slow, draining process that makes you feel guilty for having not accomplished anything in a day. You feel unproductive and hate yourself for it but you’re not doing anything to get back on track. It can happen most times when you don’t have the passion for doing your job or when everything feels like a daunting obligation. But it can also happen even when you like what you’re doing, and that’s the worst feeling. It’s not the same with completely losing your passion for something, but it surely makes you feel that way sometimes.

There’s no point in beating yourself up for breaking momentum in work because we can’t be efficient and competent all  the time. Inevitably, there will be days when we have to take a break and unfortunately, that’s not in the ideal list of what we consider a productive day. We plan our routines as we function like robots and when we can’t keep up, we hate ourselves for giving up so soon (even if you aren’t) because we ceased getting a lot of work done for the last couple of days.

Since the rise of many young entrepreneurs and influencers in the online business, it has created a massive modern wave of hustle culture propagating in the youth. In social media, you see 15-year-old to 23-year-old millionaires bragging about the new car they bought recently. You see them living a very different position in life compared to what you’ve living now, and it’s crushing you in more ways than one.

You wonder how they achieved so many things at such a young age, and as you listen to them, the more it makes you feel dumb, stupid, and lost at the same time. It puts an incredible amount of pressure on your shoulders and that’s why you constantly feel the need to see instant results of the hard work you put in for only a couple of months. You think that in just a short time, you’ll be in the same position, same fate as the influencers you see online.

But deep inside, you know there’s no instant elevator to financial independence. You believe the road to success is difficult, and not for the faint of heart. Those who constantly depend on their motivation or mood to work will not be able to hold on. Remember that your mind is powerful; whatever you feed it will manifest your reality through your attitude and behavior. 

 

15 REASONS YOU’RE LOSING YOUR DRIVE: 

 

1. You’re not patient enough.
   
   

2. You compared yourself to other people.
   
   

3. You failed to meet your expectations. 
   
   

4. Your parents doubted you.
   
   

5. Your friends told you that you don’t hang around that much with them anymore.
   
   

6. You’re attracted to another side hustle.
   
   

7. You haven’t been consistent.
   
   

8. Your routine was doing you more harm than good.
   
   

9. You’re wondering if this is all worth it.
   
   

10. You heard someone who recently quit and believed in his/her regrets.
    
    

11. You’re sad about a family/relationship problem.
    
    

12. You worry about the uncertainty of future.
    
    

13. You’re upset that you’re still unseen with your efforts.
    
    

14. You feel lost because you’re still unsure about what you want.
    
    

15. You’re overwhelmed by the amount of workload. 
    
    

8 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU LOSE MOTIVATION: 

 

TAKE A BREAK 

 

Most people complain about how tired they are after a long day of focusing only on their work but failing to realize they can’t stay focused as effectively and effectively if they don’t have the right amount of rest. When you get in the zone, you feel like nothing can stop you and you don’t want to waste the creative juice and the energy you’re feeling right now so taking a break isn’t an option.

Contrary to popular belief, that’s exactly how you run out of motivation quickly. You’re trying to squeeze so much work in a short amount of time, and that desperation is what causes an imbalance in your productivity and work ethic. You have no clear pacing in your work while you suffer the consequences. Mind your health and listen to your body.

ENVISION YOUR FUTURE 

 

To effectively gain your passion to doing the work, relish in the thought of doing something you love for the rest of your life. Imagine how worthwhile your life is going to be when you become financially stable. You won’t have to worry about money and security unlike other people because you put in the work. Think about how happy you’re going to be. Think about the people around you, how you’ll influence their lives.

Then, think about the outcome if you choose to step down from your dreams. Think about the consequences should you waste the progress you’ve made because of fear and judgment. Envision the best case and worst case scenarios of your future; if it scares you, it means you care. This will not only help you regain your motivation and drive but will also clear your thoughts about what really matters.

By envisioning your future, you can paint a vivid mental image of the life you want to live and who you want to share it with. You will know what to focus and what to throw away because you have a goal in mind. Motivation comes in when you’re constantly thinking of your goal, because that’s how you reassure yourself that you have something to look forward to and you’re not going to stop until you get there. 

 

ORGANIZE YOUR ONLINE LIFE 

 

It’s vital to protect your peace at all times especially online. By evaluating your relationship with the number of friends on social media, you can filter the type of interactions you’re likely to receive daily. People underestimate how effective and important this action is; it can literally change your perspective in life. Without surrounding yourself with haters and judgmental people, you wouldn’t spend too much time thinking about  what pleases them and start doing what’s important to you and your business. Once you draw the boundaries between the different people in your life, you wouldn’t expect an unrealistic exchange from them, preventing you from wasting time and energy. 

 

ABSORB MOTIVATION FROM THE RIGHT PLACES 

 

There’s nothing better than having someone telling us what we need to do and what we need to hear at the same time. There’s a lot of people who are gifted with the experience and the speaking talent to bring impact to your life through words. If you indulge in motivational videos, podcasts, or blogs early in the morning and late at night, their moving content will help improve your perspective about common dilemmas in your life that you haven’t thought of before.  Be careful which person you’re heeding advice from because not all they’re going to say is beneficial to you.

Once you get hooked by the philosophies of someone that isn’t in your best interest, you’ll be working for the wrong mission. It’s going to be hard to discern which advice to follow and chances are, you won’t be able to trust yourself anymore. Don’t force yourself to adjust to a piece of advice that doesn’t work out for you. If you’re still not ready to make drastic decisions, then take time to comprehend the stakes before jumping in. 

 

PRAY TO GOD 

 

Never forget that God is the source of all things. If you can’t find motivation elsewhere, then it’s probably because you’re not looking for it in the right place. Pray that He will guide you towards what’s meant for you. Pray for the wisdom to think discerningly when you’re stuck at a crossroads. Pray for more steadfast faith when conflicted between seemingly great opportunities (because you don’t want to regret not choosing the other).

Pray for the peace of mind when everything that’s on your mind is the reason why you’re lesser than others. Once you can internalize your purpose in life, you’ll realize there’s nothing people can do to stop you from your destiny. You’ll realize you’ve never been a coward. You’ll realize you’re stronger than you think, and that’s what makes you stand out from the rest. Some find motivation from external sources which is finite and weak; once the link is broken, they’ll have no where to recharge to. 

 

CHANGE YOUR DAILY ROUTINE 

 

It’s normal to feel less motivated when you’re exhausted all the time. Learn to change your previous daily routine into not only a strategic one but also a healthy version. If you don’t see good results from the last one then let that be a warning sign that your daily routine did more harm than good to your body. It’s better to have five tasks accomplished in a day every day for a week than having ten tasks to accomplish a day but uncertain if you can continue that speed and efficiency tomorrow because your health is already compromised. Get rid of unnecessary distractions and learn to make time for relaxation. If it’s spending a few minutes with your loved ones while taking a break from the computer screen, then so be it. 

 

REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED 

 

Reconnect to your purpose. Reminiscing your journey as you look back at the setbacks you’ve overcome and small successes you’ve celebrated with is an effective way to bring back motivation. You can do this by watching photos or videos about your hustles or talking about it with other people or even with yourself. This makes you realize you’ve been through a lot to stop now. You’ve been through enough so you better wait to see how far you’ve come and how close you are to the finish line. 

 

REWIRE YOUR MINDSET 

 

You have to understand that sometimes, you’re getting a little too ahead on the game that you forget to enjoy it. As much as you prioritize speed and efficiency, don’t underestimate the power of being happy in the process. Understand that overworking won’t help you in any way. It doesn’t only cause you to experience fatigue but also confuse motion for progress. Just because you appear busy, that doesn’t mean you’re doing the things you’re supposed to do. If your actions don’t contribute to your goal, then what does it matter? 

 

 

“Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.”

Thomas Edison